Author: Connor SmithPage 1 of 2

The untold story of an unassuming Berberis

All plants have stories. The Botanics over its 350 years has managed to create many, from intrepid tales of plant hunters to discovering plants new to science. Some…

A particularly exquisite Rhododendron

It will be of no surprise that an attractive plant has been found in this particular genus. One in which has been so highly regarded by the garden,…

The seeds of Dead Man’s Finger

Seeds are phenomenal structures which have adapted incredible ways to disperse. One of the of the most eye catching seed pods in the garden at this time of…

Autumn Gentiana

Autumn is a time of change, the leaves are starting to turn shades of yellow, orange and red. However, one plant steals the show and is of significant…

Blue pollen, a story of kōtukutuku

Fuschia excorticata or Kotukutuku in Māori is a large growing shrub from New Zealand. The specimen is located at the top of the stairs near the monkey puzzles….

The living fossil

The living fossil is a term used to refer to a particular set of very special species. The original term coined by Charles Darwin in The Origin of…

The Chocolate Tree

This unusual plant (Azara microphylla) sounds better placed in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory but I assure you it is real. The specimen can be found to the right…

Galanthophile or Galanthobore

The way that one plant or a group of plants can completely consume a person into a collecting compulsion has always intrigued me but also bewilders me. Few…

Natural Selection Exhibition at Inverleith House

Inverleith house has produced many wonderful exhibitions. The Lost Words exhibition being a great success with the many visitors that attended. The newest addition to Inverleith house is…

Villa Farnese

Villa Farnese is an interesting example of an Italian styled garden which varies significantly from British ideas of gardening. RBGE has a wide collection of plants, plant labels…

Villa Lante

Villa Lante is one of the finest examples of a renaissance garden in Italy. The garden exhibits the aspects we expect from these flamboyant displays of grandeur: geometric,…

Parco Dei Mostri

Italy is famous for its renaissance gardens. Students are taught in their second and third year of the Edinburgh Botanics plantsmanship course about the beautiful uniformity and strict…

Bosco Verticale

The Bosco Verticale (or ‘vertical forest’) is one of the most innovative designs I have seen. It is an example of modern cutting edge construction with an awareness…

Parassiti e malattie

Pests and Disease in Italy The scrutiny of the plant world has recently fallen upon Italy due to a vicious disease which has destroyed many ancient olive groves….

What are ‘Art Forms’ or ‘Macro/ bonsai’ ?

What are ‘Art Forms’ or ‘Macro/ bonsai’ ? They are large plants – predominantly conifers like Pine and Ilex crenata – which have been trained to look like large…

‘Have you seen the octopus?’

‘Hai visto il polpo?’ *Waves arms to impersonate octopus* ‘Its warm today isn’t it mate’ I said while flapping my arms back to him My current boss called…

Unusual fern Lepisorus thunbergianus

I spotted this unusual fern on a shipment that had come to Vannucci from Japan. The 8-20cm long plants were clinging to the trunk and underside of branches…

Chelsea Flower Show 2018

  This year was my first year at Chelsea. I was lucky enough to be able to work at Chelsea for Kevock garden plants. The display had a…

The beauty of Paris

RBGE Edinburgh Gin

Edinburgh Gin has teamed up with RBGE to create a limited edition Gin. The Gin is made with plants from The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Most of the…