Greening the Grätzloase

The Plants and Herbs of the Grätzloase of KUNST HAUS WIEN

Friedensreich Hundertwasser initiated and participated in environmental campaigns for more green in the cities and carried out tree plantings worldwide. He is particularly remembered for his participation in the campaigns to save the Hainburger Au. He called for a more nature- and people-friendly architecture and anticipated many developments of today's "Green Architecture" with tree tenants, forestation of roofs and spontaneous vegetation in his realised architectural projects.

When planting the Grätzloase, it was important - in the sense of Hundertwasser's museum greening - to make a further contribution to biodiversity in urban areas. The KUNST HAUS WIEN with its green facade, roof garden and inner courtyard creates an ideal habitat for honey bees and other insects. Among the 260 different plant species in, around and on the house are apple, pear and nut trees in the garden as well as lime trees, whose nectar bees particularly enjoy harvesting on the museum's roof garden.

The green parklet of KUNST HAUS WIEN was created by designer Robert Rüf and is made of solid larch and maritime pine plywood. For the greenery, we focused on edible, non-toxic herbs and bee-friendly plants.

The herbs of the oasis

Greek Mountain Tea (Sideritis scardica)
Winter-hardy, densely white-woolly, hairy, aromatic leaves.
The leaves and flower stems can be used to make tea. The essential oils, flavonoids and bitter substances contained in them are considered anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and invigorating.

Lavender "Hidcote blue" (Lavandula angustifolia)
Flowering, approx. 40 cm high, dark blue flowers, intense fragrance.

Curly parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Yard selection, biennial

Common sage (Salvia officinalis)
Hardy small shrub for sage tea

Clary sage (Salvia sclarea)
2 years old, strongly fragrant, beautiful flowers
Bee forage plant

Sage, peach (Salvia microphylla)
Dark pink, fragrant leaves, hardy, edible (hearty dishes)
The name sage is derived from the Latin salvia via the Middle Latin salvegia. This is a word formation of the Latin salvare 'to heal' or salvus 'healthy'.
The muscatel sage belongs to the labiate family and is a biennial to perennial plant. It bears large, grey-green leaves that appear broadly heart-shaped and wrinkled. The flowers are bluish and white, the bracts reddish to purple.

Tagetes (Tagetes tenuifolia)
Annual, with small orange coloured edible flowers.
The spice tagetes is a bee-friendly plant and serves as a food source for many insects. The flowers and leaves can be dried and used as a spice. You can use the edible flowers to decorate your fruit salad and other desserts. The flowers have a fruity orange aroma.

Nana mint (Mentha spicata var crispa)
Small-leaved, delicate, aromatic
From Palestine, hardy, perennial

Golden balm /Sharlach monarde (Monarda didyma)
Medicinal and ornamental plant
Hardy, perennial
Golden balm (Monarda didyma) is a plant of the labiates family. Golden balm is a perennial perennial plant. It grows herbaceously and can reach a height of between 80 and 150 centimetres. Golden balm is used as a tea and medicinal plant. The leaves are said to help against headaches, menstrual cramps, nausea, fever and also have a calming effect.