To continuously foster the innovative development of contemporary vegetable gardens and the practical application of urban agriculture concepts, the research focuses on vegetable gardens. To amass comprehensive data, extensive investigations were conducted across 69 distinguished botanical gardens worldwide, from which 18 cases exhibiting distinctive and representative practical characteristics were subsequently selected. These selected cases were subsequently categorized into fi ve distinct functional orientations: educational demonstration type, cultural restoration type, community participation type, scientifi c research conservation type, and a comprehensive type that encompasses multiple functions. To illustrate the practical application of this classifi cation framework, the study uses the vegetable garden at Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden as a case study, meticulously analyzing its specifi c practices in areas such as plant collection and display, community engagement and linkage, and landscape enhancement and cultural dissemination. Simultaneously, through comprehensive analysis, it has been determined that the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has achieved an internationally advanced standard in the practical application of the classifi cation system in the vegetable garden, and it can serve as a benchmark for the vegetable garden to draw on. Research fi ndings indicate that the current vegetable garden is relatively weak in promoting plant technology, media communication, collaborative research, and technological development, as well as in displaying ethnic plant utilization, and there is still room for improvement. Looking ahead, it is imperative to address these identifi ed shortcomings by establishing a comprehensive germplasm resource library that integrates both traditional vegetable varieties and their wild relatives. This resource library will serve as a foundational asset for preserving genetic diversity and supporting future vegetable breeding and scientifi c research. Moreover, there is a need to deepen the integration of functions and resources within vegetable gardens, ensuring that all aspects of their design and operation work in harmony to maximize their potential. Strategies should also be optimized in terms of popular science dimensions, focusing on enhancing the visual Appeal and aesthetic value of vegetable displays. Additionally, the cultivation of health-functional vegetables should be prioritized to leverage their nutritional and therapeutic benefi ts. By implementing these measures, the comprehensive value of vegetable gardens can be signifi cantly enhanced, thereby providing a practical and replicable example for the broader development of urban vegetable gardens in diverse contexts.