Branklyn Garden

Branklyn Garden is a 2-acre botanical garden in Perth spread across a hillside with winding paths, rockeries, and water features that showcase numerous plant species from different regions around the world. The layout combines structured planting areas with natural terrain features that create different growing zones.

The garden was founded in the 1920s with original plantings from the Renton family, who sourced materials through plant collectors Ludlow and Sherriff who worked in remote mountain regions. These early connections to Himalayan expeditions shaped the botanical character it maintains today.

The garden functions as a living collection of rare plants maintained by the National Trust for Scotland, with designated national collections of Meconopsis and Cassiope that draw plant enthusiasts from across the region. Visitors experience how these mountain species thrive together in a Scottish hillside setting.

The garden sits within walking distance of Perth city center and provides ample parking, restrooms, a gift shop, and a tearoom for refreshments. The winding paths on the hillside require moderate fitness, but the visit can be paced according to your interests and stamina.

The garden displays plant species from China, Tibet, Bhutan, and the Himalayas, including the rare Himalayan blue poppy and various high-altitude varieties rarely seen in Scotland. These plants thrive here because of the particular soil conditions and microclimate created by the hillside's natural features.