Category: Edinburgh BotanicsPage 10 of 50

An early scented Clematis

Growing on the south facing wall of the glasshouses in full sun is Clematis henryi. Found growing naturally at forest margins, on shady slopes amongst shrubs and along…

The real deal

The Crocus chrysanthus cultivar ‘Snow Bunting’ emerged unscathed from the Siberian snow that fell in quantity last week. Predominantly white petals with purple and yellow striations at the…

Early flowering of Prinsepia utilis

  Walking along the path at the foot of the Chinese Hillside last week I noticed that recent clearing has exposed some interesting plants from among the previously…

Gutters and gulley’s

March the first was the start of the metrological spring and what weather we are seeing. The last time there was this amount of snow in the garden…

Snowdrop division

March arrives and this year we have had a good six weeks to appreciate the Snowdrop collection. Reliable, regular and then as the deciduous canopy above expands and…

Buds breaking

The catkins on Salix lapponum are shedding their protective sheath and adding to the feeling that spring is imminent. A native to Europe and Northern Asia; in Scotland…

Have you seen the Alpine House?

Worth a visit; the Alpine House is displaying the best of spring colour. It is undeniable that protected cultivation allows a display of colour and interest to get…

Days lengthening

As day length increases the impetus to spend time in the garden is part of life’s natural rhythm. Get out there and be part of it. Where to…

Splash of colour

Euonymus are a genus of evergreen and deciduous woody plants. They have a habit of producing variegated sports which are then nurtured and bulked up by the nursery…

Seedling surprise

Looking for a cheap source of plants to bulk up your hedge or boundary shelter? Stay observant as you weed through the borders. There are often numerous seedlings…

A propensity to propagate

Cover, undergrowth, shrubbery; all terms for a mass of woody growth that provides shelter to biodiversity. Flowers, foliage and fruit through the seasons add to the interest of…

Overnight Freeze

The overnight freeze left a myriad of ice crystals covering the garden this morning. The coldest day yet this year at -3.1 °C. These during and after images of…

Plant destroyers in action

Visitors to the gardens will be familiar with the foot baths at all entrances. These foot baths are just one of the measures we take to protect our…

Review of the year 2017

January 1st 2017 arrived with a light overnight frost and bright sunshine. The mild weather continued and with it the fragrance from the open flowers of Sarcococca, Hamamelis and Viburnum…

Bright berries

A light, open growing deciduous shrubby Honeysuckle, Lonicera deflexicalyx bears its fruit in pairs at the leaf axles or nodes, along the stem. These small berries are a…

The Sweet Chestnut project (The Afterlife of a Tree)

Building on the biodiversity the garden supports  Regular visitors to the garden will have noticed a mature Sweet Chestnut in the later stages of its life with only a…

Two late Nerines

For a late season blast of vibrant colour a patch of Nerine bowdenii ‘Pink Triumph ‘ is flourishing in a sheltered spot to the SE of the tropical…

A second flush

The mild weather has thrown up spikes of late season flowers. This herbaceous Delphinium beesianum has flowers sitting aside the dry brown seed pods of the summer flush….

A treelet

One can only surmise that the description of Neoshirakia japonica in the Flora of China as “a treelet to 8 metres tall” refers to its diminished stature as…

Nepalese Ambassador visits the Botanics

His Excellency Dr Durga Bahadur Subedi, Nepalese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, led a delegation from the Embassy in London to Scotland this weekend, visiting Edinburgh, Aberdeen and…