Over 500 new plant accessions have been introduced into the living collection at Logan Botanic Garden, near Stranraer, following a successful field trip to North Vietnam last year by the Garden Curator Richard Baines.

Already some of the plants collected during the trip have been identified as new to science. This coming year visitors to Logan will be able to see a range of new and exciting plants growing in the garden resulting from the recent plant exploration in Northern Vietnam. These include Schefflera macrophylla with its enormous leaves commonly known as the Daddy of all Scheffleras. Other amazing plants include three new species of Magnolias, Huodendron with its amazing bark and numerous Rhododendron species some of which that may be new to science.

Richard said: “Vietnam is proving to be a real treasure trove in terms of discovering new plants. It is incredibly exciting that Logan is at the forefront of this.”

 A varied programme of work was undertaken whilst the Garden was closed for four months during the winter season. One of the Garden’s main features, the Pond, has been renovated and improved and the raised bed outside the Potting Shed Bistro is being re-landscaped to tie in with surrounding exotic desert theme. A new path from the Gunnera bog to the conservatory completes the loop for disabled access.

Richard explained: “We have been busy getting all the work completed whilst the Garden was closed between November and mid-March. Logan has enjoyed another mild winter so plants are well advanced with many new species rarely observed growing outdoors in the UK putting on a great display.’’

ENDS