Explore the garden at Mottistone Gardens and Estate

A view down a gravel pathway with flower borders on either side and the stone house in the far distance at Mottistone Garden and Estate — Mottistone Gardens filled with colourful flowers. | © National Trust Images/John Miller

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.

Seeing inside the manor

We’re hoping to open more of the manor for you to explore but we’re currently getting it ready for you to visit. In the meantime, our second-hand book shop is open within the manor and we look forward to showing you more soon.

Autumn highlights at Mottistone garden

The warm, sheltered location provides the perfect setting for flowers to blossom under the September and October sun. This means that the gardens are still full of colour in early autumn, with many of the plants that flourished through the high season still blooming.

Autumnal hues

In the lower garden, the leaves and flowers of Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ and ‘Karfunkelstein’ change colour over the months, finally reaching their full glory as the cooler days arrive. The reds and oranges of autumn leaves are also echoed in the borders. The bright, spikey orange heads of Dahlia ‘Ludwig Helfert’, and rich bronze foliage and flowers of Alstroemeria ‘Indian Summer’ reflect the landscape perfectly. Red bells of Penstemon ‘King George V’ continue to blossom in the sunshine, whilst in the monocot border stately ginger and canna lilies produce vibrant orange flowers.

Exotic plants

In the lower garden, further colour and structure is provided by the giant leaves of exotic lilies and banana plants. The dark red foliage of the Abyssinian banana survives the cooler conditions of the British climate in its sheltered location at Mottistone and produces particularly large leaves.

Flowers are blooming

Colour continues across the garden too. In the rose garden, the Rosa 'Bonica' enjoys a second flush in the autumn sun. With its compact clusters of dainty shell pink flowers and glossy leaves, it stands out within the garden. Dotted through the borders and lining the paths are delicate Japanese anemones, golden Rudbeckia ‘Herbstonne’, bright cosmos and purple catmint. The small dainty flowers of the ‘Rozanne’ and ‘Dusky rose’ geraniums in the top border are a magnet for bees and butterflies. Look out for the vivid scarlet and purple flowers of the ‘Mrs Popple’ fuchsia as they start to blossom with bright, cheery colour.

Organic kitchen garden

In early autumn we'll harvest the last of the French and runner beans along with the courgettes, tomatoes and peppers. The main crop of potatoes will be ready at this time too. The apples and pears will be heavy and dangling from the trees just ripe for picking. By October the vibrant orange pumpkins will be a familiar sight.

Whichever season you choose to visit Mottistone Gardens, there’ll be plenty to see.

Colourful herbaceous borders

Each summer the double borders fill with colour. From lofty, bright, red-hot pokers, and purple Agapanthus, to creamy Sisyrinchium, the garden bursts with rainbow shades as bees hum and buzz as they gather nectar. The sheltered conditions mean that from June through to late September, the flowers will continue to bloom. As well as more traditional varieties, the borders also contain several drought-resistant plants, as we don't water but let nature take its course.

Tranquil rose garden

This sheltered area of the garden is a wonderful place to relax. Hummingbird hawkmoths are attracted by the flowers. Each June the gentle aroma of the roses fills the garden, and the rose ‘Bonica’ creates a froth of dainty pink shells that cascade across the centre of this patch.

New plants for our changing climate

As one of the National Trust’s most southerly ‘dry’ gardens, the team of gardeners and volunteers plant Mediterranean-style planting. High up on the banks that overlook the garden, there’s a small olive grove that’s starting to establish itself. In the monocot border, to the front of the garden, there are exotic plants from around the world that do well in dry conditions. Here yuccas are found, along with palms and bananas.

More to explore

Most people will head to the borders, but beyond them lie plenty of other corners of the garden to discover.

A view down a gravel path flanked by a tall green hedge with a group of visitors enjoying the flower borders in the garden at Mottistone Garden and Estate — The garden at Mottistone Garden and Estate | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

The organic kitchen garden

With accessible pathways and raised beds, the organic kitchen garden has changing planting that varies through the seasons. From the first new potatoes of the year to sweet raspberries in early autumn, there’s always something different to see. Companion planting is used to deter pests and instead of artificial fertilisers the hungry soil is fed with farmyard manure and compost.

The orchard

Towards the rear of the garden is the orchard. Often quieter than the herbaceous borders, it makes a relaxing space to unwind or watch little ones run around on the grassy lawn. In spring, the avenue of trees blossom with confetti-like petals and in summer the fruits start to hang low from laden branches. Head to the very back of the orchard and you’ll find quiet benches to sit on among the tall trees whose leaves gently rustle in the breeze. From here a network of footpaths criss-cross the Mottistone estate too.

Wildflower banks and sea views

High wildflower banks border the orchard. In spring a carpet of narcissi and bluebells cover the slopes and in summer ox-eye daisies dance and bob in the breeze.

From the lower garden, paths meander up through these shrub-filled banks and grassy terraces to the garden's higher levels. If you sit on one of the benches here, you’ll see views of the garden, village and sea beyond and spy butterflies flitting between the flowers and grasses.

In summer, the gully provides a welcome spot of shade to escape to and in early spring it comes alive with colour as the vivid pink azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and hellebores flower.

If you’d like to know more about the garden, and how we look after it, you can pick up a guidebook for a small donation at visitor reception.