GartenDiv

Our goal is to create a comprehensive picture of the plant life growing in Germany’s gardens – including native and non-native species, cultivated varieties, wild forms, and spontaneously occurring plants. We examine how this diversity varies with garden type, size, location, and management practices, and explore the ecological, social, and economic potential that gardens offer. This project combines scientific data analyses with broad participation from garden owners to better understand patterns of plant diversity in domestic green spaces. By integrating many individual observations, we aim to improve the ecological knowledge base on gardens and their role in biodiversity conservation.

The project is aimed at individuals with access to home gardens, community or allotment gardens, front yards, or balconies – including private citizens, gardening clubs, environmental groups, and professionals in horticulture and conservation.

Participants can join the project via the Flora Incognita app: https://floraincognita.de/gartendiv/. Once the project is activated in the app, a short questionnaire generates a personal garden ID, which allows all plant observations to be clearly linked to one garden over time. Throughout the year, participants are asked to document as many plant species as possible in their garden – including intentionally planted species, those that have spread naturally, and spontaneous newcomers. Each observation should be tagged with the project keyword “GartenDiv” and will be accompanied by a short follow-up questionnaire. These data will provide valuable insights into the diversity and dynamics of plant life in Germany’s gardens.