Cornwall is well-known for its stunning, picturesque coastline and temperate Oceanic climate, but with a sub-tropical climate on the Isles of Scilly. But did you know that this climate combination means we’re able to plant and grow tropical plants in Cornwall?
Because of this, Cornwall is home to some of the most beautiful gardens in the country. Here are nine of our favorite gardens to visit on your next trip to Cornwall.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan
The Lost Gardens of Heligan are located in St Austell and are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Cornwall. The gardens were created in the 18th century and were once one of the biggest estates in Cornwall.
However, the gardens fell into disrepair after World War I and were not rediscovered until the 1990s.
Today, the gardens have been restored to their former glory and are a must-visit for any gardener or nature lover, but very much retain that ‘secret garden’ feel in certain parts of the gardens.
The gardens are dog-friendly, and visitors can enjoy the Victorian walled garden, subtropical jungle, ponds and streams, and much more. Heligan is also home to a colony of red-legged partridges.
Trebah Gardens
Trebah Gardens is another very dog-friendly garden in Cornwall. It’s a sub-tropical paradise located in Mawnan Smith, near Falmouth, and was created in the 19th century and has been open to the public since 1925.
The gardens are situated on a cliff overlooking the Fal Estuary, and is home to a variety of plants and flowers, as well as a heated outdoor swimming pool.
Trebah Garden is the perfect place to relax and take in the stunning views of Cornwall.
Trebah Gardens features a stunning array of plant life from all over the world. Highlights include the giant Amazon lilies, tree ferns, and bamboo groves. Trebah is also home to a variety of birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Trewidden Garden
Tucked away in the small town of Penzance in Cornwall is a hidden gem known as Trewidden Garden, which was created by the Bolitho Family in the 19th Century.
This picturesque garden is home to one of England’s best collections of Magnolias and Rhododendrons – as well as a collection of over 300 Camellias which have lead to Trewidden being awarded International Camelia Garden of excellence status.
Each part of the garden is intimate and different, whether it be the newly restored walled garden, the rock garden with its collection of Erythroniums, the Tree Fern Dell or the pond garden with the Whale’s Tail.
Trewidden Garden also has an excellent cafe, which serves homemade food using produce from the garden. It’s also dog-friendly, with dogs allowed throughout the gardens and cafe as long as they’re kept on leads.
Lanhydrock House & Garden
Lanhydrock House & Garden is a National Trust property located in Bodmin Moor, with the estate originally built in the 1620s. The house was largely destroyed by fire in 1881, but has since been restored to its former glory, and features an impressive collection of art and furniture.
The stunning gardens at Lanhydrock are extensive and include many different types of plants and flowers, as well as including a rose garden, kitchen garden, water garden, and much more. Lanhydrock is also home to red deer which roam freely on the estate.
There is also a kitchen garden where fruit and vegetables are grown. The gardens are open all year round and are free to explore.
Glendurgan Garden
Glendurgan Garden is another National Trust property in Cornwall, and a must-visit for any gardener or nature lover.
This Grade II listed garden was created in the 19th century and features a variety of rare plants and flowers. Glendurgan Garden is also home to a number of unusual trees, including Monkey Puzzles and Chilean Wine palms.
When the Fox family established Glendurgan in the 1820s they were a family of 12, but now there are well over 80,000 visitors who enjoy visiting the garden each year.
There are lots of different things to see at Glendurgan Garden, but two of the most popular attractions are the maze and the 30ft high waterfall, which is located in one of the valleys and is fed by a stream that flows through the garden.
Tresco Abbey Gardens
Located 28 miles from Penzance, Tresco Abbey Gardens are trickier to visit than the other gardens on this list due to the gardens being located on the Isles of Scilly.
And while you can visit the gardens on a day trip from Penzance, a weekend stay on the island is well worth it and we recommend this option to truly make the most of the gardens.
The Tresco Abbey Gardens are home to over 20,000 different plant species, making it one of the most diverse gardens in the world, and as the name hints, it was built by Augustus Smith around the ruins of a Benedictine Abbey in the 19th Century.
Visitors can explore the subtropical gardens, take a guided tour, or simply enjoy the beautiful scenery. And nature lovers will appreciate the abundance of bird and wildlife – including the famous red squirrels.
The Eden Project
The Eden Project is a unique attraction that should not be missed on any trip to Cornwall. The Eden Project is home to two large biomes that house plants from all over the world.
The first biome is called the Rainforest Biome, while the second biome is the Mediterranean Biome. In addition to the biomes, there are outdoor gardens with native British plants.
The Eden Project also has an excellent educational centre, which offers workshops and activities for all ages, as the overall goal of the Eden Project is to educate visitors about the importance of plants in our everyday lives.
Did you know that we get almost everything we need from plants? They provide us with food, fuel, clothing, building materials, and even medicine. The Eden Project aims to show visitors how interconnected we are with the plant kingdom and how important it is to protect our planet’s natural resources.
Tregothnan Botanic Garden
Tregothnan Botanic Garden is the first and only botanic garden in Cornwall. ‘Tregothnan’ in Cornish translates into English as ‘The House at The Head of The Valley’.
Located near Truro, the flora at Tregothnan has been cherished for many centuries and from the 1840s became a global hotspot for botanical innovations, and “the most introduced plants anywhere in the world now flourish in Cornwall” according to horticulturalist Philip McMillan Browse.
It covers over 100 acres and is home to a huge variety of plants, including some that are rare and endangered. Tregothnan protects many endangered trees, including one of the world’s rarest trees, the Wollemi Pine.
The garden also has a cafe and a shop where you can buy plants to take home with you.
Lamorran House Gardens
Lamorran House Gardens are located near Falmouth in Cornwall. The gardens cover 12 acres and feature a variety of plants, as well as a kitchen garden where fresh produce is grown.
Lamorran is a subtropical, Italianate inspired garden on Cornwall’s beautiful Roseland peninsula where visitors can also enjoy views of Falmouth Bay from the gardens.
A wide range of plants from all over the world is able to be grown at Lamorran, resulting in something of a plantsperson’s paradise. An extensive, eclectic and unusual range of plants can be found, with particular emphasis on southern hemisphere and sub-tropical flora.
Many features are included to divide the garden into intimate compartments which the visitor can find and explore. There are areas of woodland, a water garden in Japanese style as well as temples and archways in the steeper parts of the garden, and a small bridge on which to lean and look out over the bay exhibiting a distinctly Venetian influence.
Cornwall is Home to Britain’s Most Beautiful Gardens
From the Lost Gardens of Heligan to The Eden Project, there are plenty of beautiful gardens to explore on your next trip to Cornwall, whether you’re travelling solo, with the kids, or with the dog. And don’t forget to book a stay at one of Cornwall’s boutique hotels or glamping sites!
So what are you waiting for? Start planning your visit today!
