Kew's iconic plants

From ancient trees and the world's oldest pot plant to the famous - and foul-smelling - titan arum, Kew's flagship plants flourish under the care of its horticulturists. Come and visit them today...

Caucasian elm

The Caucasian elm is tolerant of Dutch elm disease, which killed over 25 million of our native English elms by the 1990s.

8 likes
0 comments

Chestnut-leaved oak

This is Kew's biggest tree! The Tree Register of Britain and Ireland recognises it as an unrivalled champion – meaning you won't see a finer specimen anywhere in the country.

7 likes
0 comments

Chilean wine palm

Planted in 1843 from seed brought from Chile, the Chilean wine palm dominates Kew's Temperate House.

4 likes
0 comments

Chinese plum yew

Kew's Chinese plum yew looks more like a small bush than a tree, but in its native China this species can grow up to 20 m tall.

1 like
0 comments

Corsican pine

Kew botanist R. A. Salisbury brought this conifer to Kew as a six-inch seedling from the South of France in 1814.

6 likes
0 comments

Eastern Cape giant cycad

Housed in a large wooden box at the southern end of the Palm House, the Eastern Cape giant cycad could be the oldest pot plant in the world.

4 likes
0 comments

False acacia or black locust tree

This tree is one of Kew’s five remaining 'Old Lions' – trees planted in 1762 as part of the original Gardens. Now it has to be supported by metal bands and was almost seen off by a lightning strike in 2009. Enjoy it while you still can.

3 likes
1 comment

Giant waterlilies

These huge aquatic plants are native to tropical South America.

31 likes
8 comments

Indian horse chestnut

Deer and squirrels eat Indian horse chestnut seeds, but they can be poisonous to humans. The small conkers contain a substance called aesculin, which destroys red blood cells.

7 likes
8 comments