It is located approximately 2 kilometres (1 mi) east of Niemcza, 14 kilometres (9 mi) east of Dzierżoniów and 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Wrocław. It lies within the protected area of Niemcza-Strzelin Hills that administratively belongs to Niemcza commune in the Dzierżoniówdistrict. The vicinity of Niemcza is formed by longitudinal ranges of the Gumińskie, Dębowe and Krzyżowe Hills with a varied geological structure cut by gentle ravines and gorges. At the bottom of the deepest gorge, at an altitude of 150–200 meters above sea level, flows the Ślęża River. Over one of its right-bank tributaries on the northern slopes of the Dębowe Wzgóża (Oak Hills) lies the Arboretum.
The total collection of the arboretum consists of 6532 woody plant species and 7445 perennial plants species. The large collections of rhododendrons (1350 taxa - including 124 taxa of historical Seidel-breed German hybrids), daylilies (3550 taxa) and buxus (144 taxa) have been registered as National Collections by the Polish Dendrological Society. In August 2021, four additional National Collections have been approved: Hydrangea (661 taxa), Hammamelidaceae family (162 taxa), Peony (537 taxa) and Periwinkle (ca. 50 taxa).
History
The arboretum was founded around 1811 when the owners of the Wojsławice village - von Prittwitz and von Aulock families started planting the first trees of non-European origin (mostly North American). The current design of the arboretum was created by Fritz von Oheimb in 1880 (commemorated by the Fritz Pond in the Arboretum), a Silesian landlord and a keen plant lover. He became an owner of 150 ha (370 acre) property in Wojsławice, with a romantic park created in 1821 by von Aulock family. Alongside his wife – Bertha von Oheimb - he began remodeling of the park, constantly acquiring new plant species. Since the beginning of twentieth century, rhododendron plants became his main specialization. In 1920 collection consisted of about 300 varieties. In 1890 Fritz donated them to the Botanical Garden in Wrocław. Fritz von Oheimb died on 11 October 1928 at the age of 78. He was buried within the grounds of the park. Until 1946 his passion was continued by his son – German geologist and botanist - Arno von Oheimb.
In year 1906 as a recognition of Fritz's work, German rhododendron breeder Traugott Jacob Rudolf Seidel has named one of this late-blooming Rhododendron catawbiense hybrids ‘Von Oheimb Woislowitz’.
In 1983 park became a historical site and since 1988 it is a branch of University of Wrocław.
In 2005 a new 54 ha (99 acre) grounds became attached as a new part of the park.
In 2011 collections of Rhododendron, Box and Hemerocallis were accredited by Polish Dendrological Society as a National Collections[1]
Since 2013 Arboretum Wojsławice is accredited as a display garden of American Hemerocallis Society. Year later it became a European Station for Hemerocallis Evaluation
In 2017 the GEOretum has been opened. At the site of the local quarry a permanent exhibition of various Lower Silesian rocks is being presented
2020 was a year when a Polish Millennial Garden was officially opened for a public display.
Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) – one of three old specimens in Polish climate. Grown from seed in 1962. In 2018 it had 30 meters in height and 442 cm in girth;
June is a time of Roses – historical, ground-spreading, miniature and nostalgic ones. Hostas presents their extremely decorative foliage. At the slope of Ostra Góra, Sweetcherries of Lower Silesian Historical Sweetcherries varieties Gene Bank starts to ripen.
In the Spring 2020, 5-hectare Polish Millennial Garden created since 2017, was incorporated into the garden grounds. It is a presentation of Polish bredders’ achievements in creation of new plant varieties. Collection consists both of modern and forgotten pre-war cultivars.[3] Didactic boards describing the history of Polish breeding are exposed in five resting sheds. Additionally, Millennial Garden is a place of ex-situ conservation of endangered, threatened and protected plant species . Established conservation sites include species such as: Rosa gallica, Linum austracum, Allium ursinum, Dictamnus albus, Gladiolus palustris.
Initially, the collection consisted of a thousand plant varieties to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the Siege of Niemcza (1017-2017)
Currently collection lists 1987 plant varieties (as of September 1, 2021)[4]
Tomasz Nowak, Hanna Grzeszczak-Nowak, Katalog 1000 Polskich Odmian Roślin, Wyd. I, Warszawa -Wrocław, Colonel Kraków, 2019, ISBN978-8393833849 (in Polish);
Hanna Grzeszczak-Nowak: Arboretum Wojslawice - Rewaloryzacja oraz stare i nowe kolekcje roślin, Arboretum Bolestraszyce 1995 (3): 23–24;
Muszer Jolanta: Georetum in the Arboretum in Wojsławice - stop 5, XXIV Konferencja Naukowa Sekcji Paleontologicznej PTG, Wrocław, Długopole Górne, 11–14.09.2019. ISBN978-8394230487;
Robert Tarka, Krzysztof Moskwa: Tourism Development opportunities in River Valleys of the Niemcza-Strzelin Hills, Walory przyrodnicze Wzgórz Niemczańsko-Strzelińskich (13): 113–126;