The garden at Mottisfont

Cherry blossom in the orchard at Mottisfont, Hampshire — Cherry blossom at Mottisfont | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Discover a garden of ancient trees, babbling brooks and rolling lawns. Carpets of spring bulbs, walled gardens, a world-famous collection of once-flowering roses, rich autumn foliage and a colourful, scented winter garden create a feast for the senses all year round.

Step into the gardens at Mottisfont

The abundant spring that gave Mottisfont its name is now an ornamental feature of the garden. Tributaries of the River Test flow through the grounds, too. Follow paths beside the waterways to spot trout basking and swans gliding.

As you approach the house, an enormous tree catches the eye – seeming to dwarf the building from some angles. This huge London plane is thought to be the largest of its kind in Britain, and forms part of the National Collection of plane trees which stand in the grounds.

The garden is home to many other fine specimen trees, including grand horse chestnuts and stately oaks, planted by Georgian owners. Twentieth-century features include an elegant double row of pollarded limes and a circle of beech trees.

Blossom in the gardens

Each spring, blossoms add a touch of colour to the gardens, reminding us that warmer weather is on the way. From our magnolia, which blooms by the entrance to the house, to the beautiful cherry orchard that transforms into delicate pink and white blossoms, there are plenty of places around the garden to enjoy their beauty.

Cherry Orchard

One of the best places to see blossoms is in the cherry orchard located behind the house near the lime walk. The Mount Fuji cherry trees start to blossom in March and are a great source of food for early pollinators like bees and insects. During March and April, the cherry orchard transforms into clouds of delicate pink blossoms.

Kitchen Garden

Another place to see blossoms is the Kitchen Garden, home to a heritage collection of apple trees, including species like Charles Ross, Newton Wonder, and Cornish Aromatic. Apple trees typically blossom later in the season, between late March and May, with each variety of apple having a slightly different shade of blossom.

Other areas to discover blossom

Blossom trees can also be found throughout the wider gardens, including a wild cherry on the North Paddock and another near the cherry orchard behind the house. As you explore, keep an eye out for blossom signs with information about our trees. In some areas of the garden, we are also encouraging mindful moments to help visitors pause and connect with nature.

A flower bed filled with red, pink, purple and yellow tulips — Enjoy multi-coloured tulips this spring at Mottisfont | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Spring flowers

It's not just the blossom on the trees brightening up Mottisfont in the spring – here's where to seek out swathes of colourful daffodils, tulips and bluebells.

Daffodils

From early spring and into April, daffodils cover the grass under Mottisfont’s giant plane trees and spread across the lawns. You’ll find more on show in the kitchen garden – look out for fragrant Sir Winston Churchill with clusters of double petalled flowers and orange centres, and the deliciously-scented waxy white narcissus White Lion.

Tulips

Between late March and late April, the parterre in front of the house will be a sight for sore eyes – a mass of rich purple tulip Negrita, lilac-pink tulip Candy Prince and scented creamy-white narcissus Pueblo. Stroll up to the walled kitchen garden to find large apricot-pink cups of tulip Mystic van Eiji, which has a rosy red streak, and the elegant goblet-shaped violet tulip Maytime.

Bluebells

From mid-April to early May there are some terrific opportunities for bluebell-spotting on Mottisfont’s estate walk, which actually starts in a bluebell wood a few minutes’ drive from the garden – at Spearywell woods.

The Winter Garden

The winter garden at Mottisfont was created to bring colour and scent into the gardens during a time of year that would tend to be quiet. The shape of the winter garden was inspired by the font stream and the paths meander to reflect the way the font stream flows through the landscape.

Guided garden walks

Our volunteer Garden Guides lead free themed daily walks, including a Welcome Walk which provides a general introduction for first-time visitors, alongside more in-depth history and seasonal garden walks. The Welcome Team at visitor reception will be able to advise what’s on offer when you visit.