Category: Point of InterestPage 15 of 16
Places of interest around the Gardens
Beech isn’t native to Scotland as its range only reaches into Southern Britain. It was introduced to Scotland as it was planted widely for ornament and shelter, so can often been seen in woodlands, estates and field margins.
Whilst sycamore is a common sight in Scottish woodlands it isn’t a native species and was introduced from Europe, possibly by the Romans.
This trail showcases examples of eighteen of Scotland’s most significant woodland trees. A tour of these maturing specimens will take the visitor on an informative circular wander around the Inverleith Garden.
A beautiful mandala was created in the garden yesterday from leaves, fruits and flowers. Celebrating the bounty of autumn, this transient piece of art is on the grassy slope…
A few weeks ago I was walking through the Edinburgh Garden near the foot of the Chinese Hillside when I was struck by the large number of dead…
Trachycarpus fortune This hardy oriental palm survives not only the Edinburgh climate, but in the far north west of Scotland. At Scourie in Sutherland a specimen is growing…
Livistona carinensis This desert fan palm, native to Somalia in NE Africa, to Djibouti and to Yemen in southern Arabia, is found along creek sides and in valley…
Archontophoenix cunninghamia This Australian palm bears attractive trusses of violet flowers followed by red fruits. It occurs in warm humid tropical and subtropical forests. Its popular name reflects…
Phoenix canariensis This solitary palm can reach heights in excess of 40 metres in its native islands, where it is also known as the pineapple palm. It is…
Caryota mitis Gracefully arching overhead are the tall fronds of this distinctive palm, with each leaflet resembling the tail fin of a fish. In common with most of…
Roscheria melanochaetes This young palm gives gives visitors a chance to get up close – but beware the rings of black spines at each leaf junction with the…
Raphis humilis This elegant palm is native to southern China and tends, as here in the Tropical Palm House, to produce a dense stand of many thin stems,…
Calamus flagellum Rattans are unusual vine-like palms which do not produce the characteristic clustered crown of foliage. Instead, they have long spaces between each leaf on their very…
Lodoicea maldivica This remarkable palm, with its spectacular double-barrelled fruit, has had an intriguing history ever since it was first documented as Coco das Maldivas (coconut of the…
Sabal bermudiana This fan palm has been nurtured for around 200 years. It is one of only two remaining plant specimens which grew first in the Leith Walk…
Sabal minor This low-growing fan palm is one of the most frost-hardy species, surviving temperatures as low as –18 °C in the wild. It is native to the…
Rhopalostylis sapida Native to warm temperate parts of South Island New Zealand, where it is also known as the Nikau palm, this species is the southernmost palm in…
Chamaerops humilis This is the only species of palm native to Europe, where it occurs on Mediterranean coasts from the southwest, in Spain and Portugal, through Malta, southern…
Livistona australis This vigorous palm of swamps and margins of coastal Australian rainforest is one of the fastest-growing species in our collection. Trunk sections are on display as…
Howea forsteriana This species occurs only on Lord Howe Island, a small ‘tropical paradise’ island 400 miles east of, and part of, New South Wales, Australia. Here it…