Tuesday January 6th 2026
The Glasshouse Horticulture team returning some plants to the Palm Houses (photo by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh).
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Following years of vital restoration work, celebrations are underway at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, as the first plants are returned to the renovated 19th century Palm Houses.
Built in 1834 and 1858, the two glasshouses protect some of the more tender species in the Garden’s Living Collection, including plants which are rare or endangered in their native habitats. However, over the centuries, Scotland’s weather had taken its toll on the buildings’ infrastructure, leaving the precious plants vulnerable to rain, wind and frost.
Work to restore the A-Listed Palm Houses began in 2021 with the removal of all the plants, before renovations began in 2022. Now, construction is complete and the complex task of returning hundreds of plant home has begun.
Traditional horticultural skills, combined with innovative new techniques, enabled the successful replanting of a 3.5-metre-tall Blume’s tree fern (Dicksonia blumei), the first of around 600 botanical specimens to be returned to the Palm Houses in 2026.
Transplanting is no easy feat as some of the largest plants reach almost eight metres in height and must first be manoeuvred horizontally through the glasshouse’s narrow door, then lifted upright into their final position.
Sadie Barber, research collections and project manager at the Garden said:
“Four years ago, we removed the last plant from the Palm Houses for safekeeping, leaving the building empty and ready for restoration. To finally see the first plant return is not just a huge milestone moment, but also a very emotional one.
“We’re looking forward to bringing all our plants home safely and welcoming the public back to the Palm Houses later this year.”
Royal Botanic Garden staff carefully transportting a plant back into the Palm House. (photo by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh).
Inspired by the botanical passions of the Victorians, the new planting scheme will showcase plants such as the black tree fern (Cyathea medullaris), a striking and ornamental plant which will have a prominent place in the centre of the older Palm House. Other show specimens include a large stone gate palm (Trachycarpus princeps) believed to be the tallest in cultivation outside China and members of the massive and incredibly diverse Begonia family – one of the key areas of scientific research for the Garden.
One of the most striking aspects of the restoration work is the removal of a partition which formerly divided the two rooms, uniting the two Palm Houses into one light and airy temperate space for the first time in living memory.
Over the course of the renovation work, over six hundred square metres of corroded ironwork was stripped, repaired or replaced, including the 19 iconic arched windows of the large, rectangular glasshouse. Deeper gutters and additional downpipes have also been installed, designed to better protect the Palm Houses in the face of heavy rainfall.
Some of the large sandstone blocks were replaced or reconditioned, while almost 6,000 panes of glass, prone to shattering during storms, were replaced by more robust toughened and laminated glass.
Now, with restoration work complete and the plants returning, the future of these historic buildings, and the precious collection they house, has been secured.
By providing a refuge to plants from across the world, scientists and horticulturists will continue to work together, with international partners, to help find ways to mitigate the impact of biodiversity loss and the climate emergency. It can also inspire people of all ages – from local communities to visitors from around the world – to consider the state of our fragile planet.
The Palm Houses are being restored thanks to the support of funders including the Scottish Government and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside the contributions of thousands of donors.
They plan to reopen to the public in autumn 2026.
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