About

The sub-tropical Abbey Garden is a glorious exception; a perennial Kew without the glass, home to 20,000 plants from more than 80 countries, flourishing just 30 miles off the coast of Cornwall. The plants that thrive here wouldn't survive outdoors anywhere else in the UK.

Tresco Abbey Garden was established by Augustus Smith in the 19th century around the ruins of a Benedictine Abbey. Today, the garden is home to plants from across the world’s Mediterranean climate zones, from Brazil to New Zealand and Burma to South Africa.

Fringing the lush grid of paths which criss-cross the gardens are a host of succulents, towering palms and giant, lipstick-red flame trees. Here you can find flowers of the King Protea and the handsome Lobster Claw, great blue spires of Echium, brilliant Furcraea, Strelitzia and shocking-pink drifts of Pelargonium.

The face of the garden changes throughout the year. In spring flowers bloom weeks ahead of those on the mainland – the perfect tonic after a long, cold winter. In the autumn the reds, golds and ambers of the seasonal foliage contrast with the magnificent proteas, aloes and camellias. Even at the winter solstice, there are usually more than 300 species of plant in flower.

The treasures to be found within the Abbey Garden are not limited to the floral kind, either. The Valhalla Museum within the Garden is home to shipwrecked figureheads collected across the Isles of Scilly and now part of the National Maritime collection.

For a daytrip from the other islands: There are daily tripper boats to Tresco from the neighbouring islands of St Mary’s, Bryher and St Martin’s, and regular trips from St Agnes. Please see island boat boards for details.

For a daytrip from the mainland: The easiest, quickest and most unique way to reach Tresco Abbey Garden for a daytrip is with Penzance Helicopters. In just 15 minutes, you could be landing on Tresco - the heliport is just a minute's walk from the Abbey Garden.

If you're visiting for the day, the Garden Café and shop makes the perfect pitstop, or Tresco's other restaurants, shops, beaches and glorious scenery is within a short walk. Please note that in common with the other off-islands, there is no public transport available on Tresco.

The Garden itself remains open throughout the year, but the Garden Visitor Centre and Cafe is closed during the winter (early November until March).