Christian Ludwig Krause (1706–1773) and his famous garden in Berlin: nursery, botanical garden and hub in a natural history network

Abstract

Christian Ludwig Krause (1706-1773) died 250 years ago in Berlin. In his time, he was famous for rich plant collections in his garden. Through an interpretation of historical plans and other sources, this paper addresses the setting, design, lifespan and functions of Krause's garden. Krause established his garden on two plots of land in the Strahlau suburb beyond the gates of baroque Berlin starting in 1732. Both plots were formally designed, and documents show they contained 2420 taxa, making them a remarkable early botanical garden. The garden was connected with a nursery and a seed trade and became a hub for a broad distribution of exotic plants. Through a wide-ranging correspondence and the exchange of seeds, Krause became part of a European network of natural history research. His gardens were also important places of knowledge for local botanical research. Krause's business was continued by his son until 1820. The garden remained in the family until 1837 and continued to exist until about 1860. The history of Krause’s garden shows us how, in the 18th century, a private garden in a peri-urban environment could become an important place of cultivated biodiversity, horticultural art and botanical knowledge.