The Walled Garden Remake

The Taxonomic Beds: 

The Garden was first established as a physic garden in 1621 in which plants were classified according to their medicinal properties. In the mid-1800s, the plants were arranged by geographical origin as more specimens became available from abroad. 

The evolution and classification of flowering plants has long fascinated scientists, including Darwin, who described their origin and early evolution as ‘an abominable mystery’. Today, our most modern and objective means classifying of flowering plants is known as the APG (Angiosperm Phylogeny Group) system. Unlike former classifications based on plants’ morphology (their appearance), APG is based on DNA sequence data, and is therefore much more reflective of their genetic relatedness. 

Oxford Botanic Garden is one of the first gardens to adopt this new classification system for its plant collections. The APG beds are used to teach plant systematics and taxonomy to undergraduate students at the University. The beds are also used to communicate the importance of plant classification to all visitors to the Garden. 

The 1648 Collection 

The Garden's first director, Jacob Bobart the Elder, in 1648 published a list of the approximately 1,400 plants in the garden, entitled 'Catologus plantarum Horti medici Oxoniensis' (catalogue of the plants in the Oxford medicinal garden). Several of the species featured in that document are now grown in the 1648 Collection, a border in the south-west corner of the Walled Garden. 

The Garden was founded in 1621 as a physic garden in which plants were grown for medicinal purposes. One such plant was the male fern (Dryopteris filix-mas), which has roots with anti-parasitic properties. However, not everything in the Garden at that time had medicinal properties. Buxus sempervirens, for example, was grown as hedges, along with other non-medicinal plants such as the English yew tree (Taxus baccata), which is the oldest original plant in the contemporary Garden, planted in 1645. 

In the 1600s as today, the garden grew a mixture of both native plants and plants from other countries. The most exciting and exotic plant grown in 1648 that is grown in this border today is the Virginian spidewort (Tradescantia virginiana). This plant was sent from America to John Tradescant, a gardener and collector of amazing plants. 

Literary Garden  

This area of the Walled Garden contains some majestic trees, including the oldest plant in our collection, an English yew (Taxus baccata) planted in 1645 by the Garden's first Curator, Jacob Bobart the Elder. 

The collection of trees and large shrubs provides shade, and thus an opportunity to cultivate plants that are often found as understory species in the wild. The majority of the plants flower in spring, including bulbs and herbaceous perennials such as Galanthus, Narcissus, Helleborus, Cardamine, Epimedium and Paeonia. In February 2017, the existing Morus bed was extended to create a woodland path through the space. This enables visitors to get a closer look at these delicate woodland flowers. The work was generously supported by the Friends of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum.

In late summer 2019 work to extend the existing woodland began. A variety of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants will form part of our Literary Trail, exploring how plants are represented in literature. With each visit to the Garden you will be able to witness the woodland become more established. 

Look closely and you'll find a literary friend in one of the trees here – can you spot the Cheshire Cat before he disappears?