From critically endangered conifers to exhibitions exploring the jungles of Vietnam and the coasts of Dumfries & Galloway, Logan Botanic Garden near Stranraer offers visitors a glimpse of the remarkable diversity of plants at home and around the world, as the attraction opens for its 2024 season.

The Garden’s first exhibition of the year, Galloway Seaweed Search, examines the often seen but little understood macroalgae. The rocky shores of Dumfries & Galloway are home to around 700 different species, but the amazing range of colour, shape and size of these coastal gems is often overlooked. The display opens the door to this hidden world, helping visitors to distinguish between bladder wrack and dabberlock, thong weed and sugar kelp.

Later in spring, the remarkable flora of Vietnam, pictured during the Logan team’s 2023 botanical expedition, will be on display in the Studio. The stunning images hide the sobering truth that species such as camellias, rhododendrons and magnolias are increasingly at risk in the wild, but conservation horticulture can help. Seeds collected during the fieldtrip are now being grown on in safe ‘ex-situ’ sites, helping to protect one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.

Ten Wollemi nobilis (Wollemi pines) will be planted in the Australasia section of the Garden, helping to support efforts to preserve these critically endangered conifers. While Logan has been home to Wollemi pines for more than a decade, the new specimens include six plants wild-collected from a previously unresearched population, bringing greater genetic diversity to the collection. This project is part of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s (RBGE) International Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP).

Logan is also preparing to welcome a selection of endangered plants from the southern hemisphere, including the tree Pitavia punctata and Legrandia concinna, a member of the myrtle family. Endemic to Chile, they were wild-collected by RBGE scientists and horticulturists from the country where they are now at risk.

Logan will provide a safe environment for these globally important, yet endangered new arrivals, giving visitors the chance to admire plants that are rarely seen in Scottish gardens.

Richard Baines, Curator of Logan Botanic Garden said: “Logan enjoys an almost subtropical climate, where spectacular displays of perennial plants – from towering palms to giant gunnera and magnificent magnolia – all thrive in the unlikely location of southern Scotland.

“This year, our adult and concession ticket prices are £10 and £8.70, including a voluntary donation to the Garden. The charge helps us to maintain this beautiful Garden and support the research into conservation and biodiversity loss led by our parent organisation, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.”

Logan is one of four sites of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The season runs from March 1 to October 31, 10am – 5pm, then November 1 – 15 from 10am to 4pm.