Climate gardens on the Danube Island

Three so-called phenological gardens featuring native trees and shrubs were planted on the Danube Island in April 2021.

The gardens are to be used to study the interaction between the climate and the seasonal life cycle of plants. Visitors are invited to observe the plants in the gardens and help with the collection of data.

The gardens are located at the following sites:

• 1220 Vienna, Nordbrücke Bridge ("Phänologischer Garten Nord", northern part of the island, at kilometre 6.0)
• Near 1220 Vienna, Kaisermühlen Bridge ("Phänologischer Garten Mitte", central part of the island, at kilometre 11.5)
• Upstream of Donaustadt Bridge, near the 1220 Vienna, Wehr 1 barrage ("Phänologischer Garten Süd", southern part of the island, at kilometre 9.9)

Contribute to the project by recording your own plant observations!

Information boards have also been installed, inviting visitors to the island to observe how these trees and shrubs change with the passing seasons. The collected data are input into the Nature's Calendar app of the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG).

These data support research into climate change and its effects on the Danube Island. From rowan to small-leaved lime: relevant information about these indicator plant species plays a significant role in documenting these changes.

Project partners

The three phenological gardens were established as a collaborative project by Municipal Department - Water Management (MA 45), the European Union and the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG). The gardens were created under the auspices of the EU LIFE DICCA project.