It is located at Im Neuenheimer Feld 340, New Campus, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; portions are open to the public daily except Saturday without charge.

As such, it is the third oldest botanical garden in Germany, but has moved seven times since its establishment.

The present site was created in 1915 by Georg Albrecht Klebs and head gardener Erich Behnick.

Today the garden contains over 14,000 plant taxa, with a primary focus on its greenhouse collections (4000 m² total area), with strengths in succulents, orchids, and bromeliads.

The following 11 special collections form its core holdings: The garden's outdoor sections contains plants from bogs and heath, an alpine garden, fern ravine and inland dune, weedy vineyard, and a systematic collection.