Seven years after its official opening by HM The Queen July 2007, the Wisley Glasshouse is still a stunning building in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Wisley Gardens. The Wisley Glasshouse is a massive structure, the public area covering about ten tennis courts of space. Arching overhead are 41 ft (12.5 metre) high ridges, framing glass that has been angled to make the most of the available sunlight.
The design is based on a commercial glasshouse, so as to make the most efficient use of space, light and heat. The minimum temperature of 10C in the temperate zones and 20C in the tropical zone is ensured through using the natural warmth of the sum and a supplementary gas boiler. In order to retain heat overnight, automated screens providing thermal shading are used.
For those sunny days when scorching might be a problem (yes, even tropical plants can suffer from sunburn!) the same thermal screens are used to provide shade. Where tropical warmth and moisture is important, a misting system maintains humidity at 65 per cent.
Behind the public display areas of the Wisley Glasshouse are a further 1,500sqm of growing space; in what was originally a field beyond the rock and water gardens.
In front of the Wisley Glasshouse is a semi-circular lake. This provides a football pitch sized reservoir so that water is available during periods of drought; for example, such as that we experienced in 2012.
Personally I’m a sucker for glasshouses, whether that’s the Wisley Glasshouse or a small specialist collector’s glasshouse in their back garden. So I share photos of some of the flowering plants that particularly caught my eye on one of my visits.
Bird of Paradise Flower
Strelitzia reginae as introduced into Britain by Joseph Banks in 1733 and named after Queen Charlotte, wife of George III. This South African is known as the Bird of Paradise flower, or Crane flower for its stunning orange and purple flowers and shape. These flowers are actually strong enough to support the weight of quite a few birds as they drink the nectar.
Strelitzia will grow in British gardens during the summer months but needs to be over wintered in a greenhouse or conservatory, where the temperature will not drop below 5-10C. It also makes a stunning house plant, where it will bloom for many months.
Like many plants in our gardens and houses, Strelitzia is mildly toxic, but would need to be eaten in large quantities to do any real harm.
Jade Vine
Strongylodon macrobotrys is commonly known as jade vine, emerald vine, turquoise jade vine or emerald creeper for its stunning flowers. This plant is a species of leguminous perennial woody vine, a native of the tropical forests of the Philippines, where it is pollinated by bats.
In the Wisley Glasshouse it grows along a 25m (82ft) supporting beam, and is just incredible when in bloom with large pendulous turquoise flower heads. Individual flowers are waxy, like claws in shape, as you’d expect from a member of the pea family.
The Eden project also have a large specimen in the Rainforest biome, as do Kew Gardens and Cambridge Botanic Gardens in their Glasshouse. The jade vine flowers in spring.
Black coral pea
The Black coral pea, Kennedia nigricans, is another pea family member. The Leguminosae are one of the largest family groups of flowering plants (Angiosperms) with some 18,000 species.
The flowers of the Black coral pea are a beautiful yellow and black with an almost velvety texture.
A native of Australia, growing naturally in woodland, heathland near to the coast, black coral pea will tolerate most soils and climates, although not a heavy frost. A word of warning if you try growing it in your sheltered garden – it can grow to 6 metres and is strong enough to pull down a fence!
Thunbergia mysorensis
The Mysore trumpet vine, is a woody stemmed perennial climber, growing up to 10 metres in its native India. Also known as the Indian clock vine, it has naturalised in the southern shores of Spain, where conditions can be similar to the Mysore region of India.
The maroon-red and yellow pendant blooms make this a stunning and colourful addition to a conservatory. You could try growing it outside in warmer climates; it is happy in Florida and California, for example.
Also known as brick and butter vine (from the flower colours) ladies slipper vine and dolls’ shoes (for the shape of the flower).
The Wisley Glasshouse has three interlinked zones, dry temperate and moist temperate, which are adjacent spaces within the main area of the Glasshouse; plus the tropical zone.
Whilst the RHS hold regular exhibitions of butterflies and specialist plants within the Glasshouse, it is worth a visit whilst you’re at Wisley (but don’t get wet in the waterfall!)
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Winter Gardens, Glasshouses to walk through
South African gardens in Britain – Kew at the British Museum
Australian Gardens in Britain – Kew at the British Museum
