Final planting of endangered lion plant marks momentous completion of half decade renovation
TODAY (Friday 2 October 2026), the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is reopening its historic Palm Houses to visitors. This completes a landmark point in the most ambitious restoration project in the Garden’s 356-year history, ensuring the protection of a unique and globally important plant collection.
Amongst the top four botanic gardens in the world, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and its iconic Palm Houses have long been at the forefront of global science and conservation horticulture, working to save species at risk of extinction since the 19th century.
However, by 2021, substantial restoration was required to safeguard the buildings’ ironwork, stone and glass, along with the priceless plants housed within.
As part of the extensive restoration work, all 5,750 panes of glass were replaced, 600 m² of ironwork was fully restored or updated, and 500 m² of sandstone repairs were completed with replacement stones weighing up to a quarter of a tonne.
Featuring the tallest traditional stone-built Palm House in the world, on reopening the Palm Houses will be home to almost 600 of the more tender plant specimens in Scotland’s National Botanic Living Collection, spanning 13,500 species from 152 countries.
Stories of the plants will be shared through an engaging new visitor experience which will include innovative multimedia and multisensory digital tours.
The opening was marked by the planting of the endangered lion plant (Valdivia gayana) from Chile. The Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action, Gillian Martin MSP, joined Professor Julia Knights, Regius Keeper of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to mark this important moment as the final specimen was planted in the restored Palm Houses.
Experts from the Garden are playing a leading role in the propagation and cultivation of this species to ensure its future survival, following collection of seeds from a cave in Chile in collaboration with local partners.
Known as planta del león in its native Chile, there are estimated to be fewer than five natural populations in the wild, with the specimens growing at the Botanics thought to be the only ones in cultivation.
The renovated Palm Houses are a vital refuge for a number of rare and endangered species of plants from across the globe. Examples include the Three Kings vine (Tecomanthe speciosa) from New Zealand, one of the rarest plants in the world, and the Catkin yew (Amentotaxus argotaenia), a critically endangered conifer.
The protection of these plants reflects the wider work of the Garden to preserve critical biodiversity for generations to come.
Professor Julia Knights, Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, said: “This is a truly historic moment for the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as we welcome visitors to explore our magnificent Palm Houses once again. Over the last five years they have been painstakingly restored to protect our incredible Living Collection for future generations.
“Visitors now have the opportunity to see this unique collection of some of the world’s most fascinating plants, some endangered in the wild, underneath the breathtaking glass-domes of the Palm Houses.
“The reopening of the Palm Houses is a major milestone in the 356-year history of the Garden. As the guardians of one of the world’s most biodiverse Living Collections of plants on Earth, we are working at pace to tackle the impacts of biodiversity loss and climate change, and to save species from extinction in partnership with institutions and scientists from across the globe.
“The next phase of this vital work will transform our Research Glasshouses to protect 3,000 more priceless plants, some of which are now extinct in the wild, and all of which are key in driving forward our globally leading work in scientific discovery, conservation, and horticultural innovation.”
This work was supported by investment from the Scottish Government and a significant fundraising campaign, with over £10.6m raised from major donors including The National Lottery Heritage Fund alongside generous donations from supporters, members and the public.
Gillian Martin MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs at the Scottish Government commented: “For generations the iconic Palm Houses at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh have inspired visitors from Scotland and around the world. The restoration of these heritage glasshouses helps to safeguard the globally important plant collections here for the future, ensuring vital work in conservation, education and scientific discovery can continue.
“At a time when the impacts of biodiversity loss and climate change are being felt around the world, the work undertaken at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to save species from extinction is critical. The reopening of the Palm Houses is a powerful reminder of the value of investing in our natural and cultural heritage, and I congratulate everyone involved in this extraordinary restoration project.”
For more information and to book tickets please go to the RBGE website at rbge.org.uk/palm-houses. With high interest, RBGE recommends pre-booking in advance to avoid disappointment.
Members and Patrons of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh go free.