Secret Gardens: A Snowdrop Spectacle at Chelsea Physic Garden

As winter gives way to the first hints of spring, there is no better sight than a blanket of snowdrops over the ground. Chelsea Physic Garden’s Snowdrop Trail heralds spring’s arrival with the magic of its snowdrops; each year, between late January and mid-February, the historic garden bursts into life with a display of over 100 different varieties of snowdrop (Galanthus).

These delicate white flowers offer visitors the chance to see one of the most diverse collections of snowdrops in the UK. Take a close look at the characteristics of the flowers carpeting the beds and pathways with varieties from classic Galanthus nivalis, the common snowdrop, to rarer cultivars with intricate markings, double petals, and varied leaf colouration.

Whether you’re a keen galanthophile (a devoted snowdrop enthusiast) or simply looking for a peaceful winter day out, this festival is a must-see event in London’s botanical calendar.

Did you know: the word “snowdrop” is thought to derive from the German word Schneetropfen which was used to describe pearl earrings that resembled the shape of snowdrop flowers.

The history of London’s oldest botanic garden

Founded in 1673, Chelsea Physic Garden is London’s oldest botanical garden and was originally established by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries for the study of medicinal plants. Due to the protective brick walls encasing the Garden and moisture from its location near the River Thames, the Garden benefits from a unique microclimate, allowing a wider range of plants to be grown outside that are rarely seen outdoors in Britain. This includes avocado and grapefruit trees that produce fruit each year.

The microclimate, an essential tool to maintaining the Garden’s global collection, means the Garden’s temperature rarely falls below -1°C. Due to climate change, the gardeners are finding they need to use less winter protection each year, and each season it is more difficult to predict when flowers will be in peak bloom.

What to see at Chelsea Physic Garden

Beyond its stunning snowdrop collection, Chelsea Physic Garden is home to over 4,500 different plant species from around the world. Some highlights include:

1. The Garden of World Medicine

This area of the garden celebrates medicinal plants with healing properties, used to treat illness for thousands of years. Plants include Apothecary’s rose (Rosa gallica var. officinalis) named after the monastery gardens it was commonly grown in, used for treating sore throats, indigestion and rashes. In the summer you can see foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), once used to treat heart conditions. Winter flowering plants include Ruscus aculeatus, with bright red berries (pictured below). This is commonly used as a laxative and diuretic, and also can be taken for jaundice and chilblains.

2. The Garden of Useful Plants

This section grows plants used to produce soaps, toiletries and domestic cleaning products, as well as essential oils and fine perfumes. Plants have been used for thousands of years to create scents, with the earliest perfumes often taking the form of oils, which contained crushed flowers. The flowers of Calendula officinalis (marigold) are commonly used in skin lotions, and Pelargonium tomentosum (Peppermint geranium leaves) are used for their scents to produce essential oils and soaps.

2. The World Woodland Garden

This tranquil area brings together useful, edible and medicinal forest plants, from the North America, East Asia, and Europe. Here, you’ll find beautiful ferns, hellebores, and cyclamen, which thrive in the shaded understory. Forests are vital for humanity’s survival, not just for producing oxygen but also as important sites of food, shelter, medicine and timber.

3. The Thomas Moore Cool Fernery

This small glass house is tucked away at the side of the garden, perfect for ferns due to its humidity and shade. View a wide variety of ferns in different forms and shapes, and the adaptations they have made to survive in different habitats. Thomas Moore, curator of the Garden in the mid-1800s, wrote popular books about ferns, so popular in fact that they inspired a trend for fern collecting. 

4. The Conservatory

A series of large, wooden framed glass houses is located near the garden’s entrance, featuring a green corridor connecting them together. This area features a collection of Pelargonium, a bright flower that was considered a status symbol to own in the late 1700s. In fact, a garden centre near the Garden even offered visitors the opportunity to rent pelargoniums to show off to guests at home! The greenhouse corridor (pictured below) grows plants such as Papaya and Vanilla. 

How to get to Chelsea Physic Garden

Chelsea Physic Garden
66 Royal Hospital Road
London, SW3 4HS 

Tube: The nearest stations are Sloane Square (District & Circle Line) a 10-15 minute walk away, and Victoria Station, a 20-25 minute walk away.

Bus: Routes 170, 360, and 19 stop nearby.

River: For a scenic approach, take the Thames Clipper to Cadogan Pier, just a few minutes’ walk from the garden.

Entry: Adult tickets start at £15, with concessions available.

Opening hours: The Garden is open Sunday – Friday from 11AM to 5PM (closed on Saturdays.)

For up to date entry information and tickets please visit their website.