Medicinal plant gardens have been an essential part of Weleda from the very beginning. Apart from the cultivation of plants for the production of medicines and body care products, they are an ideal way for our partners and clients to experience the meaning of our mission “In harmony with nature and the human being”.

The largest medicinal plant gardens of Weleda are also the largest of their kind in Europe. They stretch over 20 hectares on a plateau in southern Germany with the panorama of the Staufer mountains and the Swabian Alp. The Weleda offices are located just a few kilometers further south close to the center of Schwäbisch Gmünd. Roughly 260 different plant species are being cultivated in our garden according to bio-dynamic principles. 180 of these are used for the production of our medicines and to some extent also of our body care products.

Bio-dynamic cultivation not only means doing without pesticides and other toxic substances. We use compost and special preparations made for instance of cow dung, dandelion, valerian as natural fertilisers.

Hedges, nature-like ponds and the promotion of beneficial insects make for a stable eco-system which keeps itself in balance. Diseases and pests can largely be kept in check. 

In the outdoors, we grow primarily annual and perennial plants. Among these are 25 different kinds of woody plants, of which the flowers, fruits, roots, the bark or even the whole plant is used. Tropical plants like Bryophyllum and plants that like a lot of sun such as tobacco, tomato or artichoke have their place under 2000 m² of a foil-covered unheated greenhouse. Tending the seedlings for 150 different species as well as growing several different succulents such as the Peyote cactus takes place in a heated greenhouse.

Even protected plants like Hart’s-tongue fern or Yellow Gentian flourish in our gardens. Each year we carry out extensive research so that at least one new wild plant can be cultivated. This way we take pressure off the existing stock of these plants in their natural habitat while at the same time securing the quantities we need. We successfully cultivate Arnica, Autumn crocus, Lily of the Valley, Eyebright and Centaurium, Bearberry and Master Wort.

There is a regular cooperation with universities and other state or private research institutes, which lend their help in various matters concerning organic farming and the cultivation of wild species.

Click here to view an english summary of the "collection book of research projects" about medicinal plant cultivation and wild collection of Weleda AG/Weleda Naturals GmbH and cooperating partners. 

Please click here to view our Demeter certificate...