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- Architectural Plants and Scented
Foliage
The Garden has been planted with seeds and
plants from all over the world. Here are details of some
of the plants of interest architecturally or for their scent,
which can be seen in the garden. Some of the specimens are
the most spectacular to be found growing in the open in mainland
Britain.
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Phormium
• Phormium family (Phormiaceae).
• Phormiums are native to New Zealand, and are related to the Agaves.
• Phormium tenax (New Zealand Flax) has large handsome sword-like leaves.
They are good plants for maritime exposure and were used by settlers for making
rope & twine. |
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Agave
• Agave family (Agavaceae).
• Agaves are succulents from the deserts of Central America. Flowers are
carried on a tall pole above the plant, and production of flowers usually terminates
the plant’s life. |
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Yucca
• Agave family (Agavaceae).
• Yuccas are found in Central and North America. They have rosettes of stiff
pointing leaves rising from the ground or short trunks and impressive flower
spikes in the autumn. |
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Aloe
• Lily family (Liliaceae).
• Aloes are drought-resistant plants, mainly from Africa. Most have succulent
leaves and tubular or cylindrical flowers. |
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Puya
• Bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae).
• Puyas are native to the high Andes. They grow at higher altitude than
other bromeliads and are tolerant of high winds, drought and low temperatures.
• The flowering stems grow to 3m, and have the most striking green or blue
flower colours. |
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Beschorneria
• Agave family (Agavaceae)
• Beschorneria yuccoides from Mexico is a striking plant with a 2m long
arching flowering stem bearing bright green flowers and red bracts. |
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Aeoniums
• Stonecrop family (Crassulaceae).
• Aeoniums include a number of different succulent perennials from the Canary
Islands. Aeonium ‘Schwarzkopf’ is particularly striking with very unusual
dark bronze foliage, and the path down to the Visitor Centre is lined with huge
Aeonium cuneatum.. |
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Tree Ferns
• Dicksonia Family (Dicksoniaceae).
• Trebah has several huge 100 year old Dicksonia antarctica from Australia,
which were originally brought into the country as ballast in a ship’s hold. |
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Trachycarpus
• Palm family (Palmae).
• Trachycarpus fortunei, the Chusan Palm, comes from China. The small group
at the head of Rhododendron Valley are claimed to be the tallest in England. |
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Phoenix
• Palm family (Palmae).
• Phoenix canariensis, the Canary Island Date Palm is a majestic palm tree
from Canary Islands. |
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Bamboo
• Grass family (Gramineae).
• The bamboos include some of the most beautiful and elegant plants. They
have fantastic growth rate, and in parts of Asia they are used to make many of
the necessities of life including houses, paper and food. |
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Gunnera
• Gunnera family (Gunneraceae).
• The spectacular Gunnera manicata or Giant Rhubarb from Brazil grows up
to 4m high every year with leaves 2.5m across. Walk through it if you dare for
a truly unforgettable experience. |
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Fascicularia
• Bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae)
• Fascicularia pitcairniifolia from Chile is a striking plant. It produces
a profusion of long, slender spiny leaves, and in late summer to winter they
turn bright crimson around the bluish flowers in the centre of the plant. |
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Cordyline
• Agave family (Agavaceae)
• Cordyline australis, the New Zealand Cabbage Palm, gives an exotic feel
to many gardens in the South-West. Its large heads of creamy-white flowers are
very fragrant. |
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Scented Foliage
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Salvia
• Mint family (Labiatae).
• These popular garden plants are often aromatic. Salvia confertifolia from
Brazil has whorls of beautiful deep-red flowers, and Salvia rutilans has pineapple
scented leaves. |
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Prostanthera
• Mint family (Labiatae).
• Prostanthera, the Australian Mint Bush, has showy flowers and very aromatic
leaves. |
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Rosmarinus
• Mint family (Labiatae).
• Rosemary is an evergreen aromatic shrub from the Mediterranean. |
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Laurelia
• Family Monimaceae.
• Laurelia sempervirens Chilean Laurel is a handsome evergreen tree with
aromatic foliage. |
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Cinnamomum
• Laurel family (Lauraceae).
• Cinnamomum camphora, Camphor Tree, from SE Asia has aromatic leaves and
is a source of camphor. |
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Myrtus
• Myrtle family (Myrtaceae).
• Myrtus luma (now called Luma apiculata) from Chile flowers in late summer,
and has striking cinnamon-coloured bark which peels off to reveal a beautiful
cream-coloured inner surface.
• Myrtus lechleriana (now Ammomytus luma) from Chile has citrus-scented
foliage, and produces fragrant flowers in spring followed by edible black berries.
• Myrtus communis, the Common Myrtle, is an aromatic shrub from SW Europe.
It was dedicated to the Roman goddess Venus, and myrtle sprays are still used
in bridal bouquets. |
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Laurus
• Laurel family (Lauraceae).
• Laurus nobilis, Bay Laurel, from the Mediterranean is grown for its aromatic
foliage. Laurel leaves were used to crown victorious generals in ancient Rome,
and were also given to medieval poets (hence Poet Laureate). |
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Thuja
• Cypress family (Cupressaceae).
• Thuja plicata, the Western Red Cedar, is a large fast-growing ornamental
tree. It is an important timber tree, and its foliage has a pleasant fruity odour. |
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Drimys
• Family Winteraceae.
• Drimys winteri, “Winter’s Bark”, from Chile, is named after
Captain Winter one of Sir Francis Drake’s officers, who found the bark very
effective against scurvy. It is an evergreen tree with fragrant creamy-white
flowers.
• Drimys lanceolata, “Pepper tree”, comes from Australia. It is
an aromatic shrub-its dried fruits have been used as a pepper substitute. |
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Pelargonium
• Geranium family (Geraniaceae).
• Scented-leaved pelargoniums come from South Africa-the fragrance is released
when their leaves are rubbed. They can flower all year round in mild areas. |
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