Jekyll 15 | The Plant Collector

Gertrude Jekyll loved collecting plants during her travels. As she explored Europe and parts of North Africa, she sought out rare and unusual plants to enhance her gardens and inspire her designs. She had a sharp eye for plants that were both beautiful and well-suited to different climates and soils. Jekyll often gathered seeds, bulbs, and cuttings, carefully recording their growth habits and features.

Many of the plants Gertrude Jekyll collected became iconic in British garden design, thanks to her skilful use of them in her landscapes. One of the most significant was the bearded iris, which she discovered in France and the Mediterranean. Its striking flowers and bold form became key elements in many of her gardens. She also helped popularize the camellia, a plant she first encountered in Italy, known for its winter blooms and glossy evergreen leaves. Jekyll introduced lavender from southern France, using it to create fragrant, silvery-blue borders that added beauty and scent to her gardens.

Other notable plants Jekyll introduced included cistus, perovskia, and phlox, which she valued for their long flowering seasons and vivid colours. She also collected delphiniums, daylilies, echinacea, and heuchera, all of which became staples in British cottage gardens. Jekyll had a special fondness for hellebores, which she found in Italy and used to bring early spring interest to her designs.

Jekyll 15 | The Plant Collector

Gertrude Jekyll loved collecting plants during her travels. As she explored Europe and parts of North Africa, she sought out rare and unusual plants to enhance her gardens and inspire her designs. She had a sharp eye for plants that were both beautiful and well-suited to different climates and soils. Jekyll often gathered seeds, bulbs, and cuttings, carefully recording their growth habits and features.

Many of the plants Gertrude Jekyll collected became iconic in British garden design, thanks to her skilful use of them in her landscapes. One of the most significant was the bearded iris, which she discovered in France and the Mediterranean. Its striking flowers and bold form became key elements in many of her gardens. She also helped popularize the camellia, a plant she first encountered in Italy, known for its winter blooms and glossy evergreen leaves. Jekyll introduced lavender from southern France, using it to create fragrant, silvery-blue borders that added beauty and scent to her gardens.

Other notable plants Jekyll introduced included cistus, perovskia, and phlox, which she valued for their long flowering seasons and vivid colours. She also collected delphiniums, daylilies, echinacea, and heuchera, all of which became staples in British cottage gardens. Jekyll had a special fondness for hellebores, which she found in Italy and used to bring early spring interest to her designs.

Let’s look at some of the plants which became popular in British gardens thanks to their introduction or use by Gertrude Jekyll.

Scroll left or right to view them all.

Now let’s see how well you can remember the Jekyll plants we just looked at.

Let’s look at some of the plants which became popular in British gardens thanks to their introduction or use by Gertrude Jekyll. Scroll to the right to view them all.

Now let’s see how well you can remember the Jekyll plants we just looked at.