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 1945-Today:
Modern Kew
 Augusta,
Princess of Wales
 Princess
of Wales Conservatory: Design
 The
Princess of Wales Conservatory
 Back to: North
Eastern Zone
 On to: Alpine
House
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The Princess of Wales ConservatoryKew's most complex public glasshouse
Opened
by Diana, Princess of Wales on 28 July 1987, this most complex of Kew's public
glasshouses commemorates Princess Augusta who married Frederick, Prince of Wales,
in 1736 and who founded the Gardens.
Ten different environments cover the
whole range of conditions in the tropics, ranging from scorching arid desert to
moist tropical rainforest; all computer-controlled under one roof. Two
main climate zones, the Dry Tropics and Wet Tropics, occupy most of this conservatory.
There are eight more different microclimates in the conservatory, each created
for the special needs of a particular plant group. All plants are shown as naturalistically
as possible, with ferns clinging to dripping rock faces, and climbers on columns.
Paths on different levels bring visitors close to the plants so they can appreciate
the subtle details of the vegetation.
Water features strongly in the humid zones, with pools of fish
and the famous giant Amazonian waterlily. Plants of great economic
importance are growing here, as are carnivorous plants and truly
exceptional displays of orchids.
 In
depth: Princess of Wales Conservatory: Design
 Back to: North
Eastern Zone
 On to: Alpine
House
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