England’s only tea plantation, which has been owned by the same family since 1334, has recorded its annual Christmas flower count – the highest in its history. ‘This has been an epic year for tea.’
A botanical garden situated alongside England’s sole tea plantation has documented its highest winter flower count – with its head gardener attributing global warming as the underlying cause.
The renowned Tregothnan estate, which has remained in the ownership of the same family since 1334, tallies its blooming species in its private garden each year around New Year’s – a tradition they refer to as their Christmas count.
This practice serves as a method of monitoring how global warming is influencing their gardens, whilst also functioning as a friendly rivalry among other gardens across the UK.
This year the botanical garden near Truro has disclosed its highest tally to date – recording 199 different species of flowers.
The record-breaking count confirms the broadest diversity of winter-flowering plants ever catalogued at Tregothnan.
The team have stated this represents the most species-rich count in its documented history, with their survey conducted earlier than typical this year due to no frost being forecast.
The garden boasts a variety of species – which have flowered more rapidly owing to the effects of the climate crisis caused by continuously rising global temperatures.
Head gardener Neil Bennett said: “We’ve been doing this for many, many years and this is the highest flower count that we’ve ever done”.
“This year we have 199 different species of flower – so that’s not duplicating anything in the gardens.
“We have hundreds and hundreds of things in flower but we wanted to count and track one of each kind.”
Neil said the high number is a result of global warming. He explained: “The only thing it means is certain flowers will come out and then get frosted off – but we have to go with it ultimately.
“But that’s why things like the tea is thriving.
“The camellias have also come out really really early – there are prolific blooms on some and they are just stunning.”
Beyond the decorative blooms and botanical treasures, there are 31 varieties of tea (Camellia) with late blossoms from a prolonged autumn flowering period.
These delayed seasonal flowers result from an extended autumn blooming cycle, highlighting what the estate characterises as an outstanding year for tea growing in this small corner of Cornwall blessed with the ideal microclimate.
The blooms span from Rhododendron ‘Cynthia’ to Buddleja cordata, Geranium maderense and Camellia japonica cultivar.
Neil revealed that Tregothnan has never claimed victory in the Christmas flower count previously, as far as he knows.
He continued: “It would be fantastic to win!”.
“It takes me quite some time to go around and count all the flowers – around four hours.
“I then went back to the shed, typed it all up, researched all the Latin names – so that I would get the correct spelling of course – and there is the list”.
Jonathon Jones, OBE, managing director (trading) at Tregothnan, said: “This has been an epic year for tea.
“To see such diversity in flower, particularly across so many Camellia varieties, is a remarkable marker of both the season and the long-term stewardship of the gardens.”
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