The Glasshouses at Cambridge Botanic Gardens

In my last post I showed you the winter garden at Cambridge Botanic Gardens but the glasshouse are well worth a visit too . They were built in the 1930s to supervene upon the original Victorian teak field glass houses . They cover an acre of ground . There is an 80 metre prospicient corridor with rooms off it for different conditions . The plant in this long corridor are wonderfully exotic .

Hibiscus insularisdoesn’t look much like a Hibiscus , the parting are much smaller than common . It comes from the Phillip Island in the Norfolk Islands where it became very close to extinction . It is good to see the Botanic Garden helping with significant preservation work .

Calliandra haematocephala , the Powder Puff George Herbert Walker Bush from Malaysia . I have seen it grow in Martinique where it is squall ‘ Pompon de Marin ’ – Sailor ’s Pompom .

Canarina canariensisis a lovely climbing iron , I make out those yellow and orange stripey bloom . No prizes for guessing where it come from .

Solandra maximais another twining industrial plant with massive bloom which are fragrant at night because it is pollinated by bats . But not in Cambridge of grade .

Laelia ancepsis a gorgeous orchid from Mexico . I do n’t know whether it would turn on your windowpane sill .

Pachypodium lamereiis weird rather than beautiful . It comes from Madagascar and it is a succulent bush . The radical have really nasty look thorns so even though it does have bloom it is not something I would require to grow . It has to be kept totally frost free .

I ’m not sure what this is I could n’t discover the label . Maybe it is anotherPachypodium , it has a interchangeable barbellate trunk . Again curious rather than beautiful .

There were some conversant beauties growing in the corridor .

Strelizia reginae , the beautiful Bird of Paradise is pollinated by sun birds who issue forth to drink the ambrosia .

I have grown the lovelyTibouchina urvilleana , but not very successfully , it always gets very long-legged and however lovely the flowers , the plant looks a muckle . The flowers are exquisite though .

The halo of the greenhouse that the great unwashed come from miles around to see was not out yet . I think it was March or April when I saw it . if you get the opportunity in Spring do go and look at the magnificent Jade Vine in blossom . Strongylodon macrobotrysis a huge mounting industrial plant with the most amazing jade green flowers .

Cacti are n’t really my affair but there is a whole room pay to these desert works .

There are of track lots of big leaved rainwater woods plants in this muggy spyglass menage .

My favourite way is the one with adorable alpines displayed like small jewels .

A lovely thoroughgoing white Saxifrage in a pot . I would loved to have take this home .

I have grownLachenaliabut never this showy , bright ruddy one : Lachenalia bulbifera .

I growSternbergia luteaoutside in the garden but to be honest it never flower very well . But I love this bombastic white flower ofSternbergia candida . It is fragrant too .

I have never make out across this curious footling plant life before . Leontice leonopetalum . This means social lion flower petal . They do n’t look very Leo the Lion - like to me .

Sorry , a bit out of focus . footling buttercup flower of theGymnospermum altaicum . No , I ’d never heard of it either . But it is rather cute .

I really desire the whiteNarcissus cantabricus tanaicus . it is the most adorable basket - petticoat Narcissus I have ever seen .

As it is January I have to finish with some snowdrop that were displayed in the alpine house .

Galanthus‘Melanie Broughton ’ has a nice chubby blossom . Itwas happen upon at Anglesey Abbey .

Galanthus‘Anglesey Abbey ’ has dainty shiny green leaves with no Charles Grey in them .

Galanthus elwesii‘Paradise Giant’has immense , very long flowers .

If you go to Cambridge Botanic garden there are a few snowdrops for sale . ‘ Galanthus‘Wendy ’s Au ’ be £ 20 . I keep meaning to add it to my collection but it seems quite a lot to bear for a little bit of yellowish .

17 Responses toThe Glasshouses at Cambridge Botanic Gardens

give thanks you for another nice garden tour . I particularly like the alpine plants . I agree with you on that Tibouchina – at my old firm they grow to the height of small Tree and , despite the beautiful flowers , they were a mess so I eventually took them out . I inherit 2 with our current house but they may be head for remotion too .

The Glasshouses at Cambridge Botanic Gardens