The Poisonous Garden
Show Features
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The Poisonous Garden
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A walk-through, eerie feature divided into four areas with all plants chosen because they have some level of toxicity or healing.
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The Poisonous Garden
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The Poisonous Garden
![undefined](/getmedia/ebf7bc50-349e-439d-9edb-6187220dfed2/Tatton2018_V0P0348.jpg?width=1088&height=612&ext=.jpg)
1 / 5
A walk-through, eerie feature divided into four areas with all plants chosen because they have some level of toxicity or healing.
![](/getmedia/76e07ca2-507f-410b-b88b-e405bde493f7/Tatton2018_V0P0368.jpg?width=1088&height=612&ext=.jpg)
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The Poisonous Garden
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Did you know...
- Information boards, illustrated with images taken from the RHS Lindley Library, tell stories of famous poisonings while a central theater space hosts talks on deadly plants throughout the show
- Cages around some plants, for example the cycad commonly known as a sago palm and used as a houseplant, are a reminder that some plants are extremely deadly to people and animals
- Black sandbags and coir mesh are used as an inexpensive and easy way to form boundaries for the beds. Old telegraph poles add height and drama
- Michael has been researching the plants to use in this garden for several months
About the garden
The Poisonous Garden is a feature to capture the imagination, and in which visitors can explore the gruesome and dangerous nature of some of our best-loved plants.Be surrounded by peril in The Poison Tunnel and lured-in by pretty plants with a dark side – all housed safely out of reach. There are talks, tours and demos, courtesy of plant expert Michael Brown; Mr Plant Geek, Michael Perry; and poisonous plant scientist Elizabeth Dauncey.
The immersive and engaging walkthrough feature is split into four key areas comprising The Poison Tunnel; Pretty Deadly Plants; Hungry Carnivorous Plants; and The Apothecary. It has been designed and curated by the RHS alongside Gold medal-winner Warnes McGarr & Co.
RHS People’s Choice Award
The votes have been counted – did your favourite gardens win?
All Show Gardens
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Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.