Cacti & Succulents

Aloe polyphylla from the mountains of Lesotho

To the north of the Green House a steep bank has been developed with assistance of a matched funding grant from the National Lottery.  Scree areas and paths traverse the bank flanked by palms.  Much of the planting is experimental and on the verges of the limit of what even the Ventnor microclimate will allow. Factors of hardiness beyond temperature have been reckoned with, planting into sharp, rocky substrates reduces winter damp.

Many plants usually only seen in a dry collection under glass, flower freely out of doors such as Prickly Pear cacti, Agaves, Aloes and Puya. Several groups of Washingtonia Palm have been successful, as have giant Eucalyptus cypellocarpa, planted in 2001 and already over 15m tall.

 

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