The influence of cultural experience in botanic garden on plant conservation: A case from the peony garden in China

Plant conservation is a global issue fundamental to sustainable development. Botanic gardens serve as critical manifestations of this endeavor, providing spaces for plant–human interactions. Recognizing the direct engagement between plants and daily cultural practices, this study adopts a novel interdisciplinary approach to explore conservation education pathways in botanic gardens through the lens of cultural experience. A case study of Luoyang's peony gardens was conducted using a questionnaire survey (n = 1030 valid samples). Findings reveal that visitors' cultural experiences were structured around four dimensions: scientific knowledge, high culture, popular culture, and person valuing. These dimensions demonstrated direct effects on conservation education enhancement or indirect effects mediated by place identity. This study advocates expanding the conceptualization of human-plant relationships beyond scientific literacy by fostering conservation engagement through culturally grounded narratives.