The Butterfly Greenhouse
Hundreds of tropical butterflies frolic around the small butterfly greenhouse (built in 1896). They lay their eggs on the many plants. Hortus employees collect the young caterpillars and raise them in a separate greenhouse to the pupal stage. When they are about to emerge, the pupae are returned to the butterfly greenhouse where they are hung in a special pupal cabinet. As soon as the butterflies emerge, they are released in the greenhouse.
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The butterfly greenhouse also has another name: the educational greenhouse. This is because the tropical plants that grow in this greenhouse are economic plants. They are eaten, used for their fibers, or used as medicine. The large coffee plant in this greenhouse is an example of such a plant. You will also find cacao trees, tea, rice, pepper plants, and sugarcane. These plants play an important role in the educational program of the Hortus - thus the name.