Our Hampton Court Palace Climate Resilient Plant Swaps

(10 Traditional Plants We're Replacing and Why)

The AMPG Hampton Court Palace planting scheme render, produced in-house by my team.

Drinking my morning tea at the garden table, last Sunday began quite casually. Until all of a sudden, my peace was interrupted when my phone started pinging – had I seen The Sunday Telegraph?

Generally preferring to eschew the papers in favour of all things garden related, I usually rely on my much more world-informed, politically minded husband Jules to fill me in on any ‘must-know’ knowledge gaps. But this was different! I dashed out to get my hands on a copy, and I have to admit, seeing our project described as a “kaleidoscope of colour” made me properly grin.

The wider project team were obviously as excited as I was about the whole ‘the cat’s out of the bag now’ reality. The message alerts kept coming. Jen Stone, Head of Sustainability at Historic Royal Palaces, hit the nail on the head when she copied me in on her post sharing the article over on LinkedIn:

“When we embarked on the early stages of this project we did not envisage, when announcing it, that it would be against the perfect backdrop to demonstrate why it’s necessary.”

She was absolutely right. “The driest spring since 1893 combined with a fairly intense heatwave have added to our conviction that our green spaces need to adapt in order to survive.”

Talk about perfect timing – though not the sort you’d actually wish for. There we were, explaining why we need climate-resilient planting, whilst up and down the country, plants were all gasping for a proper drink of water.

This isn’t the first time the Great Fountain Garden at Hampton Court Palace has undergone transformation. Over its 336-year history, each era has left its mark on this historic space. William and Mary created the original formal Dutch design, Queen Anne later simplified the layout, and Victoria introduced the herbaceous borders and bold annual displays that became her signature style.

Now we’re adding our own chapter to this remarkable garden’s story – one that acknowledges the reality that we simply can’t continue gardening like it’s 1953.

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My Garden Design Diary: Reimagining Hampton Court Palace's Great Fountain Garden

How We're Designing Hampton Court's Great Fountain Garden (And The Principles You Can Steal)

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The thing is, this mirrors exactly what’s happening in gardens across the UK. Your comments here prove it – from Cornwall’s free-draining soil that’s turned to dust, to clay that’s harder than concrete where the mulch missed its mark. We’re all dealing with the same climate challenge: how do we keep our gardens beautiful whilst working with nature rather than against it?

At Hampton Court, we’re introducing nearly 300 species across 32 new beds, but every single plant has earned its place through climate resilience as much as beauty. It’s not about compromise – it’s about being cleverer with plant choices. And if it works for a royal garden that millions visit each year, I’m certain our selections will work for your garden at home too.

So, this week, I thought I’d share some of the traditional plants we’re switching out at the Palace for more resilient doppelgangers, and where to find them too.

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Ready to discover the climate-resilient plants transforming Hampton Court Palace?

The full newsletter only available to paid subscribers includes:

· 10 detailed climate-forward plant swaps – from struggling delphiniums to drought-proof alternatives that deliver the same garden drama

· Where to source these resilient beauties – specific cultivar recommendations and UK suppliers

· The real story behind Hampton Court’s transformation – why this 336-year-old garden is adapting for climate change

· My five garden discoveries this week – from Rose of the Year 2026 to July veg sowing and that controversial teasel defence

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Your paid subscription (less than a quality rose!) genuinely makes it possible for me to spend time researching these in-depth newsletters and helps keep this garden conversation growing. THANK YOU to everyone who supports my writing, I love doing it and am beyond grateful. Meanwhile, if you’re still on the fence, now’s the perfect time to join us in the My Real Gardens virtual potting shed, just as we head into peak summer gardening season!