Dobele is often called ‘the capital of lilacs’. At the end of May, more than 200 different lilac varieties and lilac hybrids bloom and captivate with their wonderful aroma in this large lilac garden with a total area of over 4 ha. The Dobele lilac garden is one of the largest of its kind in the world.
When starting to create the garden on the outskirts of the sunny Dobele in 1957, the selective breeding expert Pēteris Upītis dreamed of turning Latvia into a blooming garden. His work is now successfully carried on by the researchers of the Institute of Horticulture. More than 5000 fruit plant varieties and hybrids grow in the garden with a total area of 45 ha. The Institute of Horticulture is the main fruit research centre in Latvia.
