Erica tetralix

This area of the garden is planted with native species which were, and still are, used by Scots. Not all of them are still used today, as unfortunately some uses have passed out of memory. Others are still used to produce popular foods, drinks and other products.

Useful plants you might discover as you walk through this area include Juniper (Juniperus communis), Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and Heather (Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix and Erica cinerea).

Flora Celtica is an international project which records and promotes knowledge and sustainable use of native plants in Scotland. Traditional and new uses of plants have been bought together and explored, and shows the reliance the people of Scotland once had on plants for food, drink, shelter and income. New uses are now being found, including the development of an insect repellent from Bog Myrtle (Myrica gale) and heather gems – dyed and shaped stems of heather used in jewellery.

If you are interested in finding out more about some of Scotland’s native plants, you may want to follow the Native Tree Trail, which includes information on the uses of native trees.