The Botanical Garden of the University of Valencia is administratively dependent on the University of Valencia. It is a member of the BGCI, the Ibero-Macaronesian Association of Botanic Gardens and presents work for the International Agenda for Conservation in Botanic Gardens.

Medicinal plant gardens are known to date back to the 16th century, first in close dependence with the teaching of medicine at the University, which had been practised since 1462. The earliest reference dates back to 1499, when the structure of the chair of "simples" or "herbes" was planned and professors were appointed to it in 1501. It was always linked to medicine and dealt with "herbs" in their medicinal aspect. In 1548, a chair of "practices" was created and shortly afterwards (in 1560) the teaching of anatomy and "simples or Herbes" were definitively separated with independent chairs. Later, in 1631, there is news of several episodes and locations of the medicinal herb gardens and the doctors and professors responsible for them, but without assured continuity.

In 1733, the University spoke of an enclosure to be provided by the city, but it was not until 1757 that Rector Lores directly proposed the creation of an integral and complete Botanical Garden (garden, museum, teaching and conference space, service annexes, etc.) in a location close to the Alameda. In 1778, the city approved these plans, but it would be another twenty years before they became a reality.

It is clear that this conception of a Botanical Garden with a broader and more systematic vision took shape in parallel to the development of the study of Botany as a science independent of Medicine, which was consolidated in the 18th century by the Enlightenment reformism, interested in the richness of the land and the improvement of crops. In 1767, Gregorio Mayans called for a garden that would be the responsibility of the professor of botany but which would not neglect plantations of interest to medicine, and in 1786, the University of Valencia approved the reform of the curriculum with the Chair of Botany independent of the Chair of Medicine, and therefore gave greater urgency to the need for a Botanical Garden.

In 1843, Pizcueta, assisted by Félix Robillard, replaced Linnaeus' organisation with Endlicher's natural method and, after the reform of studies in 1845, received important resources for planting and also for acclimatisation constructions, such as an extensive wooden greenhouse designed by the architect Timoteo Calvo, a shade-house and small cookers which, together, would spectacularly accelerate the success and growth of the plants. In 1856 the garden catalogue was published, with more than 6,000 living species and the herbarium.

The construction between 1860 and 1862 of the iron and glass cooker, designed in 1859 by the prestigious architect Sebastián Monleón, is the enduring fruit of this impulse, a true constructive and linguistic vanguard in terms of the aforementioned materials, costly in terms of technology, economy and execution. With a length of 24 m, a span of 8.25 m and a height of 9 m, it is a glazed roof measuring 465 m², facing south, which follows the outline of a quarter of a circle from the ground to a vertical wall, creating a space attached to it. Its dimensions could accommodate certain plants such as Astarapea, Aralia, Chorisia speciosa or the Ficus benjamina, which could grow to more than 5 m and had no place in the other cookers.

When seeking funding, the University argued the inexcusable, scientific necessity for the correct maintenance of the hundred or so exotic specimens it already has in place, but also the prestige, because "for the number of plants it contains, for its luxuriant vegetation, it can already compete with the first in Europe", and this construction was presented as an exponent of being up to date with the achievements of progress and science.

The wall of the cooker would later be joined by an adjoining building, topped by a small tower, in the form of a belvedere, for management and research facilities, until it became a fortunate building that still survives today. Unfortunately, other elements of interest have not survived to the present day, such as the aforementioned wooden constructions, the primitive shade-house and greenhouse, although the latter was rebuilt, according to a project of 1867 by the architect Ildefonso Fernández Galvache, of which we have graphic evidence. These were probably replaced by the current iron ones during the last quarter of the 19th century.

Later, towards the end of the century, under the direction of José Arévalo Baca, the small cookers located next to the seed plant were built, and work was completed in 1888 on the larger cooker, also known as the "raft stove" due to the proximity of the two elements, designed on the model of the one described above from 1861.

In 1900, when Eduardo Boscá was the director, the current umbraculum was inaugurated, also made of iron, on a brick body, a work inspired by the railway canopies, designed in 1897 by the multifaceted Madrid architect Arturo Mélida Alinar, which would complete the enclosure and offer one of the most attractive spaces for its enjoyment.

Other historic moments of interest were the incorporation of the Botanical Garden into the Faculty of Science, while under the direction of Rafael Cisternas y Fonseret (1867-1876) and, later, of José Arévalo Baca (1876-1888), the activities of the Botanical School of the site and the practical and experimental nature of its plantations increased, driven by the agricultural boom of the time.

In 1878, the northern extension took place, which was to configure the enclosure that we know today, while the urban relationship with respect to the streets Beato Gaspar Bono and Quart did not change until the present 21st century. Between 1879 and 1880, the San José or Jesuit Fathers' school complex was built.

After the flood of 1957 and thanks to the tenacity of the director Ignacio Docavo, the garden was rescued and several degraded buildings were rebuilt between 1962 and 1968, trying to incorporate other elements of interest in the natural sciences.

Later, when Manuel Costa, also a professor, was director, the garden was completely restored (cleaning up the plantations, irrigation alternatives, care of the paintings, etc.) and the most characteristic architectural elements (fence of the enclosure, greenhouses, cookers, shade-house, pavilion). The so-called research building was also built on the buildings acquired by the University of Valencia on Quart Street.

At present, in addition to preserving the historic garden, work is being done to ensure its continuity as a centre for the study, research, development and dissemination of botanical culture. It carries out research into flora, biosystems and vegetation and participates in international projects related to plant biodiversity and the study of native plants. It has a library, herbarium and germplasm. It promotes specialist congresses and conferences, meetings and informative exhibitions.

At present, the Botanical Garden of the University is a teaching, plant, architectural and historical space, as well as a characterising feature of the urban landscape.