Rose Lane, Oxford OX1 4AZ
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The Collection
Oxford University has its main botanic garden in the centre of Oxford while the Harcourt Arboretum is about six miles outside the city.
The city centre garden has a glasshouse with an arid section containing a small selection of large plants, mostly succulents. There is a very large Nolina (Beaucarnia) recurvata, three tall pachypodiums, a huge Agave (probably A. americana) and a very nice Xanthorrhoea which was in flower in late 2017.
In the humid passage leading to the arid house there we noted a number of Rhipsalis or Lepismium epiphytic cacti and cereoids labelled Cereus uruguayensis (=C. hildmannianus).
Nearest BCSS Branch
Oxford: www.oxford.bcss.org.uk
Meetings are held in Oxford. Please see the Branch website for meeting dates and programme.
A Member’s View
The collection used to be larger and when viewed in October 2017 it seemed a little neglected, with several plants not being in the best of condition and others having outdated names on their labels. Although the cactus and succulent collection itself is not worth a special visit, the gardens are, despite the entrance fee. This was originally a physic garden and, being walled, is a pleasant place to sit. The time to visit would be in the summer when the bedded plants and trees are at their best.