Palm House Plant Life
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European Plants
The European Border mostly contains plants from the Mediterranean region. Several Oleander bushes can be seen. These poisonous plants are native to Southern Europe and frequently display very colourful red, pink or white flowers, according to the variety.
Dominating the bed in terms of foliage are two species of palms. The Mediterranean Dwarf Fan Palm, Chamaerops humilis, is hardy in well sheltered places in Britain. Less hardy is Phoenix theophrasti, a species of Date Palm native to Crete.
On the right hand end of the border a young Olive Tree can be seen. ‘Olives’ are the edible fruit from this species. The pulp is pressed to make Olive Oil.
Other plants displayed in the European Border, such as the Bougainvilleas and Fig, are not native to Europe, but are widely cultivated in Mediterranean gardens for their flowers or fruit.
- Nerum oleander
- Chamaaerops humilis
- Phoenix theoprasti
- Olea europaea
- Pinus sp.
