The Southern Hemisphere Garden

The rare plants on show here make the Southern Hemisphere Garden one of the more popular parts of the gardens at Wakehurst Place.

Plant profile: Wollemi pine

Southern Hemisphere plants have been a source of fascination to many, including Gerald Loder, who was responsible for starting Wakehurst's outstanding collection. What intrigued botanists and plantsmen was how, when the land masses of South America, southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand are separated by such vast tracts of ocean, did so many related species turn up so far apart? For example, Proteaceae family members are found in all four land masses, but never in the Northern Hemisphere. In recent years, the theory of continental drift has solved that problem, but the fascination with the plants themselves remains.

Taking great care not to alter its impact visually, the Southern Hemisphere Garden is being rationalised into more distinct geographical plantings. In time, the main groupings will become New Zealand, Tasmania, Australia, South America and South Africa.

Continue the tour

Back up to: Garden Zone

Carry on to: Specimen Beds