Gardens and Garden Centres

With so many intrepid explorers, plant collectors and magnificent houses, it is inevitable that Scotland is home to some of the most amazing gardens.  There are literally 100's to choose from, all specialising in different plant collections, but we have picked our favourites for you to explore.

The Botanic Gardens - Glasgow - Set in the West End of Glasgow the Botanic Gardens are a large public park, with several glasshouses the most famous of which is Kibble Palace.  Covering an area of 2137 sq m, the Kibble Palace (dating from 1873) is one of the largest glasshouses in Britain and contains a marvellous collection of tree ferns from Australia and New Zealand and plants from Africa, the Americas and the Far East.  This has been recently restored to its former glory and is a must see.  Website Glasgow Botanic Gardens


Biggar Park Garden - Biggar - Ten acre garden starred in "Good Gardens Guide", featured on "The Beechgrove Garden" and in "Country Life" "Scottish Field" and many others. Incorporating traditional walled garden with long stretches of herbaceous borders, shrubberies, fruit, vegetables and a potager. Lawns, walks, pools, small Japanese garden and other interesting features. Glades of rhododendrons, azaleas and blue poppies in May and June. No dedicated website


Culzean Castle - Maybole, Ayrshire - This fairytale castle includes several different types of gardens as is typical of a large, grand estate.  A country park that extends to 600 acres and encompases Formal and Informal gardens, Walled Gardens, Terraces, Vegetable Gardens...the list is endless.  Apart from the gardens this is a fantastic day out.  Website Culzean


The Royal Botanical Gardens - Edinburgh The Royal Botanic Garden, known locally as the `Botanics´, was established way back in 1670 and is Scotland´s premier garden. Tender plants are an important part of the Living Collections and the Glasshouses featuring Britain´s tallest Palm House, is a haven for botanical wonders in ten climate zones. Discover some of the world´s oldest plants in the Orchid & Cycad House. The Tropical Aquatic House, displays well-known and economically important plants, including bananas and rubber. The world´s largest collection of vireya rhododendrons are on display in the Peat and Rock House. Website Royal Botanical



Dawyck Botanic Garden - Stobo - Dawyck Botanic Garden benefits from the cooler continental environment in the heart of the Scottish Borders, and from over 300 years of tree planting, truly one of the world´s finest arboreta. Gaze at exotic conifers dating back to 1680, the unique Dawyck beech, and some of the tallest trees in Britain. Find fungi, mosses and lichens in the world´s first-ever Cryptogamic Reserve for non-flowering plants. Carpets of bulbs and drifts of snowdrops mark the arrival of spring. Magnificent colour is provided in early summer, thanks to the garden´s collections of rhododendrons - particularly those on the Azalea Terrace. Flaming leaves and luscious berries ensure that autumn is a memorable time of year. Website Dawyck


Abbotsford Gardens - Melrose - Well this is over an hour away, but so worth the drive.  The garden and landscape of Abbotsford are the creation of Sir Walter Scott, and were developed from scratch between 1811 and 1825. The lanscape composition is outstanding in aesthetic, scenic and architectural terms and its association with Scott gives it exceptional national value. There are three garden areas: the Entrance Courts, the Morris Garden and the Walled Kitchen Garden. Spring sees Abbotsford displaying swathes of daffodils, followed by bluebells and other spring flowers. May is full of colour with rhodedenrons and azaleas, and in July, August and September the herbaceous borders are wonderful. Walk beside the River Tweed or through the woodland. Website Abbotsford


Drumlanrig - Thornhill - Drumlanrig is already mentioned on in our Art and Castle pages but the gardens give you yet another reason to visit. Work began on the gardens around 1689 creating a grand formal terrace garden. The garden today has undergone major restoration in recent years with the newly restored Victorian Greenhouse, vegetable garden and plant centre, selling a wide range of quality plants, many of them raised in the gardens. Within the gardens you may pass one of the first Douglas Firs planted in the country, the tallest weeping Beech in the British Isles or one of the recently restored Victorian Heather houses. Website Drumlanrig


Garden Centres - The Clyde Valley - Having gained inspiration from vsiting so many gardens you can then visit the Clyde Valley Tourist Route between Garrion Bridge and Lanark.  Here you will find the road along the Clyde littered with garden centres all specialising in different plants and offering you a bewildering choice.  Our own personal favourite is Silverbirch Website Silverbirch