Garden Features

Cherry Walk

The Cherry Walk stretches from the Palm House to the Temperate House, starting behind the Rose Garden to the rear of the Palm House, leading up to the Mediterranean Garden next to King William's Temple, and then on to the Temperate House. The walk consists of a collection of varieties of Japanese Sakura (ornamental cherry) trees which provide showy flowers throughout spring, in shades of white to dark pink. Many are also highly valued for their colourful leaves in autumn.

The walk was planted in 1935, but many of the trees were damaged by storms in 1987 and 1990, and others were affected by disease. For these reasons in 1993 it was decided to replant the Cherry Walk. The project, sponsored by Sakura Bank of Japan, was completed in 1996. There are now 22 trees in matched pairs of 11 different cultivars between the Rose Garden and King William's Temple. This area is also a highlight in spring when thousands of crocuses come into flower. The cherries bear charming and colourful Japanese names, such as Imose ("sweetheart" ), Tai Haku ("big white flowers"), and Taki-nioi ("fragrant waterfall"). To the other side of King William's Temple are 14 pink flowering cherry tree Prunus "Asano", which provides a wonderful contrast to the white Temperate House during flowering time.

The Cherry Walk is number 8 on the Visitor Map.