Behind the scenes of a Living Collection
When you walk through a botanic garden, it’s easy to think the plants you see are the whole collection. In reality, they’re only a fraction of it.
A big percentage of a garden’s living collection is kept out of sight in nurseries and private areas. These spaces are where plants are propagated and bulked up before they’re ready for display. They’re also where species that don’t suit public areas (i.e. too delicate, too large, or too precious) are grown and safeguarded.
Trees and large shrubs usually dominate the landscape outside, but many herbaceous species or conservation collections remain tucked away behind the scenes. For staff, these hidden areas are as important as any display bed: they’re the living library shelves that support research, conservation, and the future of the collection.
So the next time you visit a garden, remember that what you see is only a fraction. The real collection is much larger, living quietly just out of view.