UK TROPICAL GARDEN tour with Curator | February in Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens

February is a time of gradual transition in the subtropical gardens at Abbotsbury. This gardens unique warm coastal woodland microclimate has protected the exotic plant collection from the worst of winters weather. Tropical and exotic plants often considered tender elsewhere continue to thrive through the most challenging time of the year. The gardens Curator, David Pearce, walks us through the gardens to share some of Februarys plant highlights.

We find David deep in the woodland with one of the countries champion trees, a stunning and rare Magnolia hybrid that is illuminating the impressive canopy with hundreds of large pink blooms. Trekking up the Sino-Himalayan glade we spot a low growing groundcover plant with otherworldly flowers inconspicuously hidden beneath a carpet of silvery-green foliage. Enormous blooming Rhododendrons provide shelter for a much rarer and notably delicate Camellia that has been flowering throughout the winter season. It’s fragile looking flowers exude a heady fragrance enjoyed by anyone that wanders past. The discoveries continue with David sharing a stunning shrub producing clusters of waxy flowers and paper-like peeling copper coloured bark. Unrecognisable as a Rhododendron, this rule-breaker is rarely cultivated successfully in this part of the world. Moving up and out of the damp wooded subtropical valley and toward the dry Mediterranean borders we spot an unusual shrub sporting large clusters of intensely yellow blooms. A special collection of winter blooming Buddleja plants showcases the variety available in an often overlooked genus, provided nectar for any pollinators brave enough to take flight in February. Also thriving on the south facing Mediterranean bank we find a tree Heather, smothered in masses of tiny white blooms. Finally David shares and impressive hybrid palm, surely one of the largest outdoor plants of it’s kind in the country.

🌴 Find out more & visit Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens: https://abbotsburygardens.co.uk

IN THIS VIDEO:
00:00 Intro to Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
00:45 Magnolia 'Hawk'
03:30 Eriobotrya deflexa
06:40 Asarum splendens
10:30 Camellia transnokoensis
13:40 Rhododendron genestierianum
15:35 Roldana petasitis
18:05 Buddleja officinalis
22:15 Buddleja salviifolia
25:00 Erica canaliculata
26:05 X Butiagrus nabonnandii

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