Fernery and Comillane Gardens

The Fernery

The Fernery is a garden for lovers of the rare and unusual.

The Fernery main

Closed in 2023

The Fernery has design features that should prove useful to owners of smaller plots and urban gardens.  By digging into a steep earth bank, we have been able to create sheltered areas with varying microclimates, suiting a wide range of botanical rarities.  The raised beds against a south-facing wall suit cacti, succulents, and sun-loving palms, while the north-facing bank suits tree ferns and other woodland species.

Tree ferns feature prominently, including Dicksonia antarctica, Cyathea dealbata, Cyathea australis, and Todea barbara, as well as a variety of native ferns.  Palm trees are a particular interest, with twenty different species growing here.  The garden also features many rare trees and shrubs from subtropical regions, with some of the best new introductions from Vietnam, including Rhodoleia parvipetala, Disanthus ovatifolia, Magnolia floribunda v. tonkinensis, and five different species of Schefflera.

Special Features

  • Guided walks
  • Car parking 
  • Tea, coffee and cakes

Directions

Eircode P81 RX62. 

From Skibbereen, take the Baltimore Road, then turn left at the sign for Evans Engineering.  Follow this road for several kilometres, all the way up the hill and down the other side.  Turn right at the crossroads.  The Fernery is about 350m down on the left, three wise monkeys on the gateposts.

Contact

Michael & Emma Prime, The Fernery, Gorteenalomane, Skibbereen, Co Cork

Tel: 083 319 3555 

Email: comillane@eircom.net

Facebook: The Fernery