A history of therapeutic gardens in Romania

Horticultural therapy has been used since ancient times for relaxation and healing, with doctors and psychologists recommending that patients participate in gardening classes, walks in nature or parks, and engage in various activities in the garden.
Horticultural therapy was conceived by combining concepts from various fields, including occupational therapy, landscape architecture, gerontology, and rehabilitation, with a basic principle being that participation in the life cycle of a plant has therapeutic power.
Horticultural therapy uses plants and gardening activities to improve the social, educational, and psychological aspects of people who want or need to improve their lives.
In Romania, the interest in medicinal flora and herbal therapy has been manifested since Dacian times.
Starting with the 15^th century, the first medicinal herb gardens appeared around monasteries and in some boyar courts.
Over time, the fantasy and skill of landscapers in using medicinal-ornamental plants have enriched the green spaces around hospitals, sanatoriums, and rest homes.
In Romania, the concept of horticultural therapy began to take shape in 2014, when the first therapeutic garden was established at Mocrea Psychiatric Hospital in Arad.
In urban public spaces, sensory gardens have appeared sporadically through private projects, playing a role in stimulating the senses, promoting relaxation, relieving daily stress, and evoking pleasant emotions.
The healing power of nature can benefit anyone, even those without access to a specific area of land or nearby green space.

EHC2024: International Symposium on the History of Horticulture in Europe

E.D. Lorentz, S. Petra, E. Dobrescu, C. Fabian

herbal therapy, medicinal-ornamental plants, sensory garden

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1438.10