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Island Endemic Flora

The Garden holds a number of rare and endangered species from Crete and the Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Canary Islands.

Planted along the warmest wall of the garden is an extensive collection of species from the Canary Islands and Madeira. These include species of Argyranthemum, Lavandula, Lotus, the impressive Echium pininiana with its 8 foot blue flower spikes (see picture, below) and the rare Echium wildpretii from the top of the volcano (Mount Teide) in Tenerife.

Most of these plants survive mild winters with the protection of a fleece tent that extends the length of the border. Back-up plants of all species are kept in the glasshouses in the event of a very cold winter.

The collection of endemic Cretan plants is grown in one of the glasshouses as well as on the recently restored rock garden. It is the oldest planted rock garden in Europe still on view to the public and dates from 1773. It was built with stones from the Tower of London, chalk and flint and lava from a volcano in Iceland. The lava was donated by Sir Joseph Banks, it was used as ballast in his ship and was dropped off at the Chelsea Physic Garden as it sailed up the Thames.

Views of the Canary Island and Madeiran bed
The tall flowering spikes of Echium pininiana	Wrapped for the winter	Inside the fleece cage

The National Collection of Cistus

'Cistus - a guide to the Collection at the Chelsea Physic Garden', by Dr Paul Bygrave

Until June 2003, the Chelsea Physic Garden was the National Collection holder of Cistus as part of the NCCPG (National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens). We held 190 different species and cultivars from approximately 300 different accessions of Cistus, Halimium and the intergeneric hybrid X Halimiocistus.

Some were planted around the Garden, but because of the great number of plants and the lack of space in the Garden, most had to be grown in pots and propagated regularly.

The publication of our book on Cistus in 2001 by Dr Paul Bygrave has proved very popular and invaluable to Cistus collectors/growers.
This 64 page paperback is the culmination of over 15 years work. It describes the work of the NCCPG, with whom the collection is registered. Ethnobotanical, historical and geographical background is given on this diverse group of plants; as well as botanical and horticultural information. The species, subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars found at Chelsea Physic Garden are described (with some colour photographs).

The book, priced at £6.90, is available from the Chelsea Physic Garden shop on public open days or by mail order for £7.50 (including postage). Please write to the office at: 66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS, with cheques made payable to 'Chelsea Physic Garden'. Please mark your envelope "Cistus book".

British Natives and other regions of the world

Cornfield annuals

The Garden holds a collection of British native plants as well as collections of other continents.

The South African, display contains species from this part of the world, with a large example of Cussonia paniculata which survives our winters with the protection of a structure of bubble-wrap during the cold winter months.

The South and North American beds, display a selection of trees, shrubs and colourful annuals from these regions.

The photograph shows a selection of Cornfield annuals which, although not originally native to Britain, are now naturalised into our flora.