The Apothecary Garden is one of the oldest botanical gardens in Russia, located in the center of Moscow on Mira Avenue. It was founded in 1706 by decree of Peter I as an apothecary garden for the cultivation of medicinal plants and the improvement of medical knowledge. The name comes from the word "apothecary" - that is, related to medicines, as the plants were grown for pharmacies and medical needs.
The garden arose on the site of a state garden that previously belonged to the pharmacy of the Gostiny Dvor and was moved to the northern border of what was then Moscow, behind the Sukharev Tower. Peter I himself took part in the arrangement of the garden, planting coniferous trees here to demonstrate the differences between species.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Apothecary Garden became an important scientific center: outstanding botanists worked here, excursions were held, and herbarium collections were gathered. In 1805, the garden was acquired by Moscow University and became part of its botanical garden. Under the guidance of Professor Georg Hofmann, the plant collection quickly expanded, and in 1808 the first catalog was published, including more than 3,500 species of plants.

In the 19th century, the garden took on the features of a city park, accessible to the general public. Alleys were laid out, lawns were created, and benches were installed - all of which made it a favorite walking place for Muscovites. In the early 20th century, a palm greenhouse was built here, where exotic species were cultivated, including the Victoria regia - the famous giant water lily.
After the October Revolution and the Civil War, the botanical garden went through difficult times: many greenhouses were closed, and part of the collections was lost. Only in the 20th century, especially after 1950, when the Apothecary Garden became a branch of the Botanical Garden of Moscow State University, did the restoration of its scientific and cultural role begin.