China is home to more than 1,700 orchid species, reflecting a breathtaking range of landscapes – from the humid forests of Yunnan to the snowy slopes of the eastern Himalayas. Among them are iconic ...

Kew’s much-loved Orchid Festival returns in 2026 to mark its 30th anniversary, brightening up the winter months with a spectacular display inspired by Chinese heritage and biodiversity. Taking over ...

This unique collection of botanical art celebrates the beauty of nature in exquisite scientific detail – from an age before photography until the present day. The gallery captures the endless variety ...

I head the Conservation Genetics team in the Conservation Science Department. The aim of the team is to use modern techniques to investigate the genetics of rare species and to clarify their ...

Fungi exhibit an astonishing variety of shapes, colours, and textures, making them fascinating subjects for botanical art.

Our ancient Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest and most extraordinary trees in our Gardens. Commonly known as the maidenhair tree, it was planted here at Kew centuries ago in 1762, only three years ...

Nature has been the inspiration for many forms of art and literature throughout history. In fact, it inspired the very first photographically illustrated book. Cyanotype photography is a camera-less ...

Nearly 2000 years ago, the city of Cyrene in Northern Africa (modern day Libya) had one plant to thank for its status as one of the richest cities in the land. It was known as silphium, and had almost ...

From panda food to furniture, bamboo (Bambusoideae) is a resilient plant with many different uses. Bamboos are a group of woody plants in the grass family Poaceae. Although they're grasses, some ...

Meet Encephalartos woodii. With a crown of bright green leaves, intricately patterned trunk and orange cones, it will certainly catch your eye. Found in 1895 by John Medley Wood on the edge of the ...

Shade-grown coffee plantations can be powerful allies in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. The use of native trees can provide habitats for wildlife, protect soil health, and ...

Wild flower meadows are one of the rarest habitats in the UK and we have lost 97% of our wild flower meadows since the 1930s. Losing our wildflowers has a real impact on the food we eat. 'British ...