佛教發源於熱帶季風雨林，釋迦牟尼一生的幾個重要階段：出生、悟道、傳道、涅槃，都與樹木有關，最有名的當屬悟道時坐於其下的菩提樹，更是各地佛寺必栽植之樹。除了佛經當中記錄了許多植物，佛教的祭祀、說法，乃至醫藥，也都跟植物密切相關。十九世紀末至二十世紀初，在全球如火如荼研究佛教與佛教植物的年代，當時林業試驗場的金平亮三也自南洋引進了優曇華、孟加拉榕等樹種，栽培於台北植物園，成為台北植物園栽種佛教植物的濫觴。時至今日，台北植物園栽培了卅多種佛教植物於園區內。每年三月底春光明媚時，佛祖誕辰的無憂樹便會盛開，彷彿在邀請大家到植物園認識這些特別的佛教植物。 Buddhism originated from an area of tropical monsoon climate full of monsoon forest trees. There are a few important phases in the Buddha’s life – birth, enlightenment, teaching and nirvana – each phase can be represented by a tree. The most famous among them is the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. This tree appears in every Buddhist temple around the world. Buddhism has been closely connected with plants. A lot of them are recorded in Buddhist texts, and you can see even more in its worship rituals, teachings and medical practices. During late 19th century to early 20th century, the study of Buddhism and its related plants were in full swing. Mr. Kanehira Ryōzō, the person in charge of the Forestry Experimental Station (now Taiwan Forestry Research Institute) at the time, brought in Indian fig trees and banyans from Southeast Asia, which were the among the first Buddhist tree collection in Taipei Botanical Garden. Today, there are more than thirty different Buddhist plants in the Taipei Botanical Garden. In magnificent March springtime, the Ashoka trees, sacred trees that are associated with the birth of the Buddha, would be in full bloom as if they are inviting people to come and learn about the Buddhist plants.