Research

The Nursery allows space for large scale experiments conducted by our scientific staff to support their work.

At present these include, Geum rivale (water avens)and Geum urbanum (wood avens), investigating plant reproductive strategies. Euphrasia (eyebright) are semi-parasitic on grasses and other plants. But perhaps the prettiest experiment we have had is Mimulus guttatus (monkeyflower), testing the genes for environmental adaptation.

Geum urbanum and Geum rivale

Euphrasia with host plants, grass and clover

Mimulus guttatus

For the past 25 years, the Nursery has been the powerhouse that has driven the development of one of the world’s largest collections of conifers. Tens of thousands of the world’s rarest conifers have been produced from seed and cuttings, some in staggering numbers, such as Araucaria araucana, (the Monkey puzzle), to some only in handfuls, one notable success being Cathaya argyrophylla, (yinshan), from China.

Araucaria araucana

 Cathaya argyrophylla

A small area is devoted to a collection of plants which are monitored internationally as part of the International Phenology Gardens Project.

Syringa x chinensis, IPG-431, part of the International Phenology Gardens Project.