The garden at Mottisfont

Step into the gardens at Mottisfont for year-round delight

The abundant spring, or font, 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.

Summer in the garden

Our central and north walled gardens are home to the National Collection of pre-1900 old-fashioned roses. They're in full bloom just once a year, reaching their peak in early summer. However, due to an unusually warm spring, the roses are expected to flower earlier than usual this year, from mid May until mid June.  The rose displays build everyday to a peak in late May and early June.  In 2026, the first rose bloomed at the end of April.  Visit the garden in April to see new, fresh foliage clothing the pruned and trained roses.

Over 400 varieties of rose grow here, from gallicas to albas, drawing visitors from all over the world. We extend our garden opening hours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 8pm (from 21 May - 13 June) to give visitors more opportunities to visit the roses.

Visit on a Thursday evening and enjoy a little extra atmosphere courtesy of a three-piece jazz trio.  Visit on a Friday evening for a tranquil saunter around the walled garden and time to appreciate the beauty of the roses.  Visit on a Saturday evening with family, bring a picnic and make the most of our selection of traditional lawn games including giant dominoes and chess.  We invite you to enjoy picnics on the paddocks, outsdie the Walled Garden near the picnic benches.  It’s the perfect way to unwind and welcome the weekend with friends and family in the beautiful surroundings of Mottisfont.

This early blooming aligns with broader trends observed across the UK, where spring has been arriving earlier over the past 25 years, advancing by about nine days due to climate change. This shift has led to earlier flowering in many plants, including roses.

Find out more about rose season at Mottisfont.

Colourful herbaceous borders in the walled gardens provide changing displays until September. Underplanting here is vibrant and varied.  See flambouyant peonies, statuesque bearded irises and ghostly white foxgloves working together in harmony with the cottage garden companion plants as a foil for our stunningly beautiful collection of roses.  The plants here were chosen for their structure, scent and wide colour palette. Agapanthus, geraniums and peonies mingle with pinks, lilies, phlox and nepeta. The centres of the borders are a mass of soft blues, pinks and whites, whilst stronger yellows, oranges and dark pinks draw your eye along the length of the border.

In July and August, lavender lines the pathways of the walled garden and edges the north lawn behind the house. Pause beside the purple flowers to take in the scent and listen out for the hum of busy bees.