Dendro Flora of Pula public gardens in the past and today

The parks of Pula, like other green areas of the city, are rich in plant species, so there are more than a hundred different plants in the city parks. Some of them were planted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries during the rule of Austria-Hungary and then Italy. At that time, many exotic species were planted that could not adapt to climatic and soil conditions (Carica papaya, Copernicia sp., Dasylirion sp., Taxodium distichum, Coffea arabica, Cyperus papyrus, Musa xparadisiaca, Phoenix dactylifera, Sequoiadendron giganteum, etc. .), while others have survived to this day (Sequoia sempervirens, Yucca filamentosa, Cedrus libani, Trachycarpus fortunei, Chamaerops humilis, Magnolia grandiflora, Pinus jeffreyi...). An Austrian scientific paper from the second half of the 19th century lists a further 36 species of subtropical vegetation, partly growing wild around Pula and southern Istria.

From the beginning of landscaping to the present time, more than 200 species have been planted in Pula parks: mainly during the Austro-Hungarian period (99), while only 44 species were planted during Italian rule. Some of them have long disappeared, others have adapted well and are planted even today.

During the Austro-Hungarian rule, mainly allochthonous plant species and exotic species were planted in the gardens of Pula, while only a few of them were autochthonous and are found in these parks even today. Although among the mentioned species brought from abroad there are species that were unable to adapt to the new soil and climatic conditions, so they either did not survive or are in poor condition today, there are also a significant number of species planted during that period that today they are in city parks and really serve a decorative function.

The period of Italian rule was also characterized by the planting of mainly allochthonous species whose ecological conditions in their country of origin were very similar to ours. Most of them acclimatized and adapted very well to their new environment, which is why today they are well represented in the parks of Pula.

Older residents of Pula remember their city well as a wonderful green oasis in the very south of the Istrian peninsula. You can often hear them talk about the old days, mentioning the benches in the parks, the gurgling water from the fountains in the Sailor's Park (Mornarichki Park) or in Monte Zaro, as well as the impeccably trimmed hedges in all the parks of that time. Today the trend is to restore at least some of their former glory. From old postcards and photographs of the city of Pula, it is sadly clear that most of these treasures are lost forever. Today, parks are primarily used for easier and faster travel between destinations, but rarely as a stopping point. The exception is certain age groups (children and pensioners), who spend most of their free time in parks.

The parks are only a small part of Pula's rich cultural and historical heritage from its 3,000 years of existence and therefore represent an irreplaceable decoration with a valuable collection of plant species that are almost 150 years old. Thanks to the mild climate and more or less successful selection of species, many of them, although exotic or allochthonous, have survived to this day, so in their new habitat they have the characteristics of newcomers (they bloom, bear fruit and reproduce without human help).

Over the past few years, the old topiary technique of pruning and trimming plants in parks has been reintroduced. These parks were once designed this way, and the plant species present allow this technique to be used. So, the parks of Pula are regaining their characteristic appearance.