First established in 1638 as Hortus Medicus, a specialized medical herbs garden for doctors and pharmacists, the Hortus Botanicus has since flourished into one of the largest and oldest botanical gardens in the world. With over 6,000 native and non-native trees and plants from all corners of the globe, the Hortus Botanicus offers visitors a tranquil, peaceful sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Amidst all the lush greenery and exotic plants at the gardens, more unique plants to take note of include a 2,000-year-old agave cactus, a 300-year-old Eastern Kape giant cycad, and a 154-year-old giant water lily which blooms beautifully every night around dusk. It should be noted that the giant water lily can only be seen during summer months. Visitors should also not miss the three-climate greenhouse with 3 different zones representing the subtropics, the desert, and the tropics; the palm greenhouse housing an extensive collection of palms, cycads, and container plants; and the butterfly greenhouse which hosts hundreds of exquisite tropical butterflies carefully raised by Hortus employees.