Renowned Czech botanist Václav Větvička dies

Czech biologist and popular science botanist Václav Větvička has died at the age of 87. He served for many years as director of Prague’s Botanical Garden in Slupi. News of his death was first reported by the Chrudimský deník.

Václav Volejník, director of the Hamzova Therapeutic Institute, who worked with the scientist for many years, said the institute’s staff would honour Větvička’s memory during the traditional autumn closing of the Hamzova arboretum in Luže. The botanist had long served as the arboretum’s patron: he took part in its development, planted new trees, gave lectures to visitors and regularly attended the garden’s opening and closing ceremonies. Větvička himself once noted that this year would have marked 28 years of his collaboration with the arboretum — he wrote about it in the foreword to one of his last books, dedicated to walks through the garden.

Václav Větvička was born on 13 January 1938. He became one of the most prominent popularisers of botany in Czechia: he authored several books on plants, appeared regularly in the media and offered consultations to anyone interested. For many years, he worked at the Institute of Botany of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences in Průhonice, and from 2007 to 2020 he oversaw the park at Štiřín Chateau.

From 1992 to 2007, Větvička headed Prague’s Botanical Garden in Slupi. During his 15 years at the helm, he managed to restore the garden to its former glory, guided by his own motto: “The Botanical Garden is the green calling card of Charles University.” Under his leadership, the garden’s grounds were expanded, a recreational area was created, and the site’s overall appearance was refreshed — but most importantly, it was on his initiative that new tropical and subtropical greenhouses were designed and built (1996–2000).

Větvička was also among those who helped establish Czechia’s Tree Day, celebrated on 20 October. He additionally worked as a consultant for the Toxicological Information Centre at Prague’s General University Hospital.

Over the years, Větvička received numerous accolades for his contribution to science: in 2004, the Academy of Sciences awarded him the Vojtěch Náprstek Medal; in 2018, President Miloš Zeman presented him with the Medal of Merit; and a year later, he received the award of the Chairman of the Council for Research, Development and Innovation.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz