
Kew Gardens
Wood like to meet: The loneliest plant in the world
Encephalartos woodii is tough, elegant and handsome. Yet, since it arrived at Kew in 1899 it has been all alone.
The loneliest plant in the worldPlease note, the Temperate House will close early at 4pm on 6 June 2023. Additionally, the House will be closed between 10am and 3pm on 9 June for a short course event.
Travel the world in this glittering cathedral – home to 1,500 species of plants from Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Following a major five-year renovation process, the Temperate House re-opened in 2018 to showcase the splendour of the world’s temperate zones.
As temperate plants, all the species contained within its walls need to live in conditions above 10oC to survive. Despite being the foundation of much life on Earth, many of these plants are under threat.
The Temperate House tells the story of how Kew and partners all around the world are working to rescue plants that are rare or already extinct in the wild.
Filled with 10,000 individual plants, this vast collection may help us find solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues, from climate change to loss of biodiversity or food security.
Enriched by over 250 years of plant expertise, the Temperate House is the beating heart of Kew – an iconic landmark and a beacon of the future for plant science.
The Temperate House was voted 'Best UK National Treasure' at the 2018 National Geographic Traveller Magazine Reader Awards.
Daily, 10am to 5pm
We may occasionally need to close attractions for maintenance or visitor safety: Check for planned closures and visitor notices before you visit.
Lion Gate.
For step-free access, please follow the signs to the western side of the building.
Kaka beak (Clianthus maximus) is endemic to New Zealand. Its unusual common name refers to an endangered New Zealand parrot, known locally as the kaka.
Tree pincushion (Leucospermum conocarpodendron) is endemic to South Africa. Our specimen is grown from seed collected in 1803, germinated by Kew scientists.
Chilean wine palm (Jubaea chilensis) is native to Chile in South America. Its sap has been widely used for palm wine, which can only be extracted by felling the tree.
Kew Gardens
Encephalartos woodii is tough, elegant and handsome. Yet, since it arrived at Kew in 1899 it has been all alone.
The loneliest plant in the worldKew Gardens
It's not only the Temperate House that's gained a new lease of life at Kew.
Plant grown from 203-year-old seedKew Gardens
Field science is behind some of the most rare and endangered plants now protected and displayed at the Temperate House.
The plant explorers of KewWe would like to thank the Heritage Lottery Fund, Defra, Eddie and Sue Davies, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Wolfson Foundation, The Linbury Trust, The Hartnett Conservation Trust, and other supporters.
Thanks also to donors supporting the Horticultural and Construction Apprenticeships, including the J Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust, the Buffini Chao Foundation, Make My Day Better, The Ingram Trust, the Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation, the Finnis Scott Foundation, the Ernest Cook Trust, CHK Charities Limited, the Sandra Charitable Trust, the Vandervell Foundation, the Radcliffe Trust, the Eranda Foundation, the Worshipful Company of Gardeners, the Lake House Charitable Foundation, the Helen Hamlyn Trust, the February Foundation, and other donors.
Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about - from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, or from precious memories and collections to rare and unique wildlife www.hlf.org.uk. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #HLFsupported.