Chelsea Physic Garden

Chelsea Physic Garden

16 Apr 08, 16:35 As expected

The Chelsea Physic Garden was established as the Apothecaries’ Garden in London, England in 1673. (The word ‘Physic’ here refers to the science of healing.) It is the second oldest botanical garden in Britain, after the University of Oxford Botanic Garden, which was founded in 1621.

Its rock garden is the oldest English garden devoted to alpine plants. The largest fruiting olive tree in Britain is there, protected by the garden’s heat-trapping high brick walls, along with what is doubtless the world’s northernmost grapefruit growing outdoors. Jealously guarded during the tenure of the Society of Apothecaries, in 1983 the Garden became a registered charity and was opened to the general public for the first time.