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.
