Gardeners' Corner - Kilmacurragh and the Plant Hunters

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In this episode of Gardeners' Corner, David Maxwell visits what some call 'Ireland's secret garden' - Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow. The site became part of the National Botanic Gardens in 1996 and since then a restoration programme has been underway. Leading the tour of the gardens, which boast a vast plant collection, is head gardener Seamus O'Brien.
From a 'Peter Pan' tree which thinks it's a child but is over 100 years old to a plant which traps animals so their decaying bodies give it food.

Seamus is also continuing the work of the Victorian plant hunters. He has gathered plants from Chile, China and Tasmania on his own plant hunting expeditions. Also joining the tour of the gardens is Neil Porteous from Mount Stewart. The two gardens cooperate in the work of creating a 'Noah's Ark' of endangered southern hemisphere plants in the temperate Irish climate.

Published on Tuesday, 23rd December 2025.

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