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The garden at Trengwainton

Snowdrops with trees in the background against a blue sky, Trengwainton Garden, Cornwall
Look out for snowdrops when the garden reopens 16 Feb for the 2025 season. | © National Trust/Marina Rule

Trengwainton is a garden of contrasts with winding wooded paths that open onto wide grassy lawns and sea views. It’s celebrated for the collection of award-winning rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias within its 25 acres, some of which flowered here for the first time in Britain.

Spring in the garden

With the sea on three sides, including the Gulf Stream on its north coast, Cornwall is blessed with a mild climate which means spring comes early to Trengwainton. By the time the garden reopens on 16 February, there are usually snowdrops forming carpets beneath the trees, camellias in full bloom and hellebores and primroses adding to the colour. 

March is peak time for the magnolias and the towering magnolia Campbellii is the first to flower. There are around thirty magnolias throughout the garden and the drama of their big waxy flowers set against blue skies is hard to beat.

As March gives way to April and May, Trengwainton’s historic award-winning rhododendron collection comes into its own, with lofty trees giving vibrant bursts of colour throughout the garden. Some, including the pale lemon Rhododendron macabeanum, flowered for the first time in Britain here in this garden.

Their colours range from white through to the deep blood red of Rhododendron arboreum ‘Cornish Red.’ On warm spring days, be prepared to be stopped in your tracks by the heady fragrances of the pale pink Rhododendron loderi 'King George' and the white Rhododendron fragrantissimum.

This is also the time when Trengwainton's winding wooded paths are lined with a spread of bluebells beneath the trees.

Summer

June is when the stream garden comes into its own with its frothy display of candelabra primulas, irises and other water-loving plants. As summer progresses it’s the turn of the astilbes, crocosmia and ginger lilies to shine there. Keep an eye out too for the golden-ringed dragonflies that love to flit near the water. 

In July and August it's the turn of the cut flower border in the walled kitchen garden to put on a show, along with the hot pink salvias in the mediterranean border next to it. The succulents on the south-facing wall of the orchard burst into bloom and the line of purple agapanthus at the top of the garden on the Terrace provide a striking backdrop to the sea views beyond.

Autumn

As the mellow autumn months of September and October progress, the shelterbelt of beech trees surrounding Trengwainton turn from green to yellow and then a deep rust colour, while the acers planted on the edge of the Carriage Drive transform into brilliant reds and golds. In amongst the usual autumn colours are some that you might not expect to see, such as the pink of Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’ or the bright purple flowers of Tibouchina urvilleana. There are also lots of hydrangeas in various shades of pink, purple and blue. 

Durng these months, apples from the orchard, pumpkin, squash and other produce grown in the kitchen garden may be available to purchase.

Top things to see

The view from the Terrace

On a clear day the view from the Terrace at the top of the garden stretches for 25 miles across Mount’s Bay to the Lizard peninsula beyond.

To reach it, choose either the shady path of the tree-lined Long Walk or the Carriage Drive which opens onto a colourful stream border and meadows. 

The walled gardens

In the lower half of the garden are 10 sections of walled gardens. Five of these are crammed with tender exotic plants from around the world, and five more are a kitchen garden with unique sloping beds.

Home of springs

One translation for Trengwainton is ‘home of springs’ and water is certainly a feature here with two ponds and a gentle stream running through the centre of the garden. There are also two giant tree fern glades which give a Jurassic jungle feel as their huge fronds tower overhead.  

A view over the fields at Trengwainton Garden, Cornwall
Sea view from the Terrace at Trengwainton Garden | © National Trust Images / Hugh Mothersole

Walking with your dog

The garden is half a mile long and on a steady incline, so whether you choose a gentle stroll or a brisk walk, it’s a great place to stretch your legs. You can bring along your four-legged friend too as dogs on leads are very welcome everywhere except inside the cafe and the second-hand bookshop (assistance dogs only in these buildings). Click here for more information on visiting Trengwainton with your dog.

Picnic spots

If you’re looking for somewhere to picnic, the orchard is a large grassy area with dappled shade from the apple trees, while the Terrace at the top of the garden has sea views stretching away across Mount's Bay. Halfway up the Carriage Drive there’s the Royal Meadow, complete with fairytale Edwardian summerhouse. 

Dicksonia antarctica (tree fern) around the pond at Trengwainton Garden, Cornwall
The pond at Trengwainton Garden, Cornwall | © National Trust Images / Andrew Butler

Family fun

At Trengwainton we’ve a whole range of family events and activities throughout the year, including seasonal trails, Easter Egg Hunts, Summer of Play, autumn leafy adventures and the Christmas lights festival. For more information see our article: Family-friendly things to do at Trengwainton.

Silent spaces

If you’re looking for somewhere to sit quietly without the distraction of electronic devices, we’ve partnered with the national Silent Space charity (Registered charity no. 1190013) and set aside two areas in the garden for quiet contemplation; on the Terrace at the top of the garden is a summerhouse offering a sheltered spot to sit and silently gaze across 25 miles of sea to the Lizard peninsula beyond. 

At the lower end of the garden is a secluded spot called the Laurel Circle, with its circular metal bench and surrounded by the evergreen leaves of laurels (open from Easter onwards). 

Pink azaleas and rhododendron surrounding a wooden bridge at Trengwainton Garden

Discover more at Trengwainton Garden

Find out when Trengwainton Garden is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.

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