
National Collections are vital. Without them untold numbers of cultivars, and the skills required to grow them, would disappear every year as different trends fall in and out of favour with the gardening public and commercial growers cease production of certain plants. Here at Winterbourne, supported by Plant Heritage, we hope to save some of…

Two of our Members and supporters run a fantastic company that offers well-being coaching for everyone and academic coaching for young people, their parents and teachers to empower them to raise aspirations and achieve goals through compassionate and holistic learning. They know how much people are missing Winterbourne and have very generously put together a…

Our new borders on the Arboretum Lawn are now into their second full summer and really starting to fill out and mature. Tall spires of pink and white foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) planted last year are now beginning to flower for the first time and look fantastic in combination with the giant exploded star shaped flowers…

The first cultivated species of Selenicereus grandiflorus is mentioned by Carl von Linne (Linnaeus) in 1753, where he described it as the largest flowered species of cacti known at the time. However, it was introduced to Europe well before this, with historical records at Hampton Court Gardens mentioning it growing there prior to 1700. Native…

Auriculas as we know them today are descendants of a hybrid between 2 European alpine primulas; the Primula auricula, or bear’s ear, and Primula hirsuta or European alpine primrose. They are thought to have been grown in UK gardens since the latter half of the 16th century and are mentioned in Gerard’s herbal of 1597.…