Friendship Tree Garden Museum and Subtropical Botanical Garden in Sochi Russia.

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The Friendship Tree Garden-Museum is a fantastic creation of nature and human hands! The Friendship Tree is a unique citrus tree, in the Friendship Tree Garden Museum and Subtropical Botanical Garden, in Sochi, Russia. The tree of friendship is a symbol of peace and friendship between nations. It is a unique monument of scientific achievements. Branches of the museum were grown from the buds grafted by people from different countries. The Friendship Tree Garden Museum was opened in 1981. In 1934, the institute scientist F.M. Zorin planted a wild lemon tree in the garden in order to get the new, frost-resistant varieties of citrus tree. In its crown, he consistently grafted Japanese tangerine, Spanish orange, Chinese kumquat, Italian lemon, grapefruit, etc. – overall, 45 species and varieties of citrus. In 1940, the famous polar explorer Otto Schmidt also grafted this tree in memory of his visit to the garden. In 1957, three Vietnamese doctors suggested naming this unique garden-tree the Friendship Tree. Nowadays, on this tree there are the branches grafted by the representatives of 167 countries from around the world, as symbols of international friendship and living in harmony with nature. Each graft has a round metal tag attached, with the grafter’s name and event’s date. Overall, more than 630 graftings were made on this tree. The hands of the numerous state leaders, outstanding politicians, public figures, astronauts, scientists, artists, made them. Another 60 young trees of friendship grow next to the Friendship Tree. People from different countries and of different professional backgrounds planted them.  The volumes of guest signature books, with thoughts of peace, friendship, and harmony inspired by the Friendship Tree, written by visitors.  Also numerous gifts to the Friendship Tree from every corner of the world are the museum exhibits. The museum has more than 20,000 gifts from all over the world representing cultures and traditions around the world. The Friendship Tree Garden Museum displays history of the Friendship Tree in words and images. Plants of eighty botanical families are grown and displayed in the Botanical Garden.

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