Oldest palm’s story to ‘live on’ through its offspring

Scotland’s oldest palm tree, which had to be cut down after 230 years in a botanical garden, will live on, after its offspring was planted in a newly restored glasshouse in its place.

The “legendary” 55ft tall Sabal mexicana palm was a treasure of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) after it was shipped to the Port of Leith via Germany in the 1790s.

The oldest plant in the Garden’s Living Collection of over 13,500 species, it grew in RBGE’s former site in Leith Walk until the entire plant collection was transported to its current home in the city’s Inverleith in 1820.

One of only two plants in the A-Listed Victorian glasshouses dating back at least 200 years, the much-loved palm was dismantled in 2021 to make way for a multimillion pound restoration project.

It had grown too large to be moved intact, but horticulturists have ensured the celebrated tree will live on through its progeny.

Young plants from seeds collected in 2016 have been growing in pots in a research glasshouse for the last ten years.

Now one of these offspring has been given pride of place in the recently restored glasshouse where it is hoped it too will reach an impressive height over the next 200 years.

A time capsule commemorating the restoration of the palm house has been buried near the newly planted palm, to be opened in 44 years (2070) to coincide with the Garden’s 400th anniversary.

Sadie Barber, RBGE’s Deputy Curator of Glasshouses, said: “Our legendary palm tree had been part of the Botanics’ collection since the late 1700s, and was officially recorded in 1822 after the collection was moved from Leith Walk to Inverleith.

“It grew in the palm house for the next 200 years so it was intrinsically linked to us. It was taken out as it had outgrown the glasshouse and was reaching the roof, which coincided with the renovation.

“We were sorry to see it go, so are delighted that we can keep its story going.”

The palm was originally thought to be another species, Sabal bermudana, which is native only to Bermuda and is classified as endangered.

When the palm was dismantled experts conducted analysis and identified it as an example of Sabal mexicana – a more robust species native to the southern states of North America that was yet to be described to science for around 40 years after it first went on display in Edinburgh in the 1790s.

Originally kept in the RBGE’s tropical glasshouse, the discovery meant that its offspring could be planted in the restored glasshouse, which is now a temperate space showcasing palms and ferns.

The young palm is currently a “shuttlecock-shaped” collection of fronds, and will not flower for at least five years or develop a recognisable trunk for up to another decade.

A slow-growing species, over many decades it too could eventually reach a height of over 55 feet.

Ms Barber said: “We thought we would need a tropical space to grow it but Sabal mexicana is a hardier species, which meant we could bring it back to its home.

“It was a happy surprise.”

She added: “It’s currently no more than a couple of metres tall and hasn’t yet formed a trunk so it’s a series of large fan-shaped palm leaves.

“It could be another ten years at least before we start to see a trunk, but it could still be here in another 200 years – that’s the plan.

“There is something wonderful about the slowness of nature. It is very calming.”

Kevin Bannon, Senior Horticulturist at the Garden, looking after the new palm house, said: “When we removed the plants in 2021 we couldn’t keep the Sabal mexicana because it was so tall.

“By bringing a new seedling in we were able to continue its story and maintain that connection with the past.

“Hopefully, visitors will be able to watch it grow for another 200 years.”

Time capsule

The time capsule was buried with the Sabal mexicana progeny for a future generation of horticulturists to uncover in 2070.

The tubular capsule, which is geolocated, contains an introduction to the restoration of the palm house as well as images of the horticulturalists who have been involved in the emptying and replanting of the building, a map of the Garden and some items from the RBGE gift shop.

It also contains the front and back covers of a newspaper from the day it was buried, on Thursday May 14. The front page shows an image of King Charles sitting alongside Queen Camilla as he reads the King’s Speech in the House of Lords.

The sports page will remind those who open the capsule in 2070 about the Celtic FC penalty kick drama from the previous evening’s controversial match against Motherwell, which set up the final day league title decider against Hearts.