Explore the garden at Mottistone Gardens and Estate

Image of stone steps and flowers around the edges — Mottistone Gardens in the summer time | © Chuck Eccleston

The tranquil garden at Mottistone is well known for its colourful borders but there's far more to explore. Banks covered with wildflowers in the spring shelter the garden and unusual drought-resistant plants thrive without watering. With a multitude of different spaces to discover, and sea views from the higher areas, this garden is not to be missed.

Summer highlights at Mottistone

Summer at Mottistone Gardens is truly a feast for the senses. From the heady scent of roses blooming in early June to the vivid colours that sweep through the borders later in the season, the garden is a vibrant and ever-changing celebration of the season.

The double perennial border is at its peak in June, bursting with catmint (Nepeta), delicate Sisyrinchium, and towering foxgloves (Digitalis). Enjoy the romantic old English sweet pea tripods, and the countless pollinators buzzing among the blooms.

We’re proud to garden organically here at Mottistone. Without the use of herbicides or pesticides, we create a welcoming environment for wildlife — from moles and hares to pheasants. It’s a big challenge for our small team, but it’s the right thing to do for the health of the garden and the wider ecosystem.

A quiet but exciting transformation

Led by Head Gardener Claire and supported by our dedicated volunteers, the garden is beginning to reconnect with its roots. New plantings reflect former owner Lady Nicholson’s Sicilian heritage and her legacy as the garden’s creator. Some of her favourites now grow here once again — look out for striking euphorbia, fragrant broom and sweet pea ‘Lady Nicholson’. In the kitchen garden, Sicilian vegetables now mingle with local Island produce.

Sustainable practices to ensure Mottistone’s ecologically resilient future are flourishing, from organic seaweed feed and a compost-heated pumpkin patch to eco-friendly plant sales.

These are just a few of the summer highlights, and there are many more plants and flowers to discover around the garden. See what other interesting flora you can find on a visit to Mottistone this summer.

Explore beyond the gardens and take a stroll to the coastal downs, where panoramic views stretch across the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. With the gardens bursting into colour, summer is the perfect time to visit and experience Mottistone’s beauty in full bloom.