Plant Hunters

Exbury is crammed with exotic plant species from all corners of the world. But how did these plants come to thrive in our beautiful garden?

The heyday for plant collecting from the rhododendron-rich, Himalayan region was the early part of the twentieth century. This coincided with Lionel de Rothschilds’ creation of this vast woodland garden. He purchased Exbury in 1919 and worked tirelessly until his death in 1942. His enthusiasm for rhododendrons never wavered and he was a keen sponsor of the great Plant Hunters of the day, notably Frank Kingdon-Ward (1885 – 1958) and George Forrest (1873 – 1932).
 
Lots of correspondence between Lionel and the plant hunters survives, including this vivid account from Kingdon-Ward who in 1937 wrote to Lionel de Rothschild:

“When one is sopping wet for hours everyday it is extraordinary how soft one’s skin goes, then anything with a proboscis can make a hole in it.” He continues: “Leeches are the only creatures which really deserve to be called blood thirsty. The indecent haste with which these blind mouths double towards you as soon as they get your wind is revolting.”

Many of the plants found by the plant hunters can be seen in the Gardens, including the famous Azalea Bowl with its collection of Wilson’s “50 Kurume Azaleas”. During the year a number of special events held at Exbury recall the exploits of the plant hunters, including a series of George Forrest walks between Tues 6 and Fri 9 April 2010. John Anderson, in his series of breakfast walks, identifies many plants associated with the golden age of plant exploration.

Exbury are pleased to continue their sponsorship of overseas plant hunters today.