RHS moves plant collections due to climate change
The RHS has been forced to move two of its national plant collections north as their performance becomes increasingly affected by warmer, drier conditions in Surrey.
The national collections of rhubarb, previously located at RHS Wisley, has been uprooted and transported to the cooler, damper conditions of RHS Bridgewater, near Manchester. “It’s now too dry at Wisley for rhubarb and the warmer winters means they don’t get enough cold period,” said Wisley curator, Matthew Pottage.
Depending on variety, rhubarb needs between seven to nine weeks below 3C, allowing the plant to rest, before reshooting in spring. “We’re now finding our gooseberries aren’t performing well for the same reasons, so this winter the 180-strong collection is being moved to Bridgewater, too.”
This year’s heatwave affected the performance of many garden plants, a new RHS survey of gardeners shows, with many plants unable to cope. Moisture and shade lovers such as hydrangea, Japanese maples, anemone, astilbe, ferns, heuchera, phlox and fuchsia floundered, and sun-loving crocosmia and roses were also damaged in the heat.