Palm house botanical kew

The Palm House at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is an iconic Victorian glasshouse housing one of the world's most important collections of palms.

About this subject

Located in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London, the Palm House was designed by architect Decimus Burton and engineer Richard Turner, opening in 1848. It is one of the most impressive examples of Victorian iron and glass architecture, created to display tropical and subtropical plants, especially palms. Its elongated, curvilinear shape resembles an upturned ship, and the structure was an engineering feat for its time, with over 16,000 panes of glass and an innovative coal-fired heating system.

The glasshouse is 110 meters long and 20 meters high, housing a collection of more than 1,100 palm species, including rare specimens such as the African oil palm and the breadfruit palm. In addition to palms, the interior replicates a humid tropical rainforest ecosystem, with epiphytic plants, ferns, and cycads. The Palm House also served as a model for other large glasshouses around the world, such as the Montreal Botanical Garden conservatory.

A notable fact is that the structure was designed with a system of gutters to collect rainwater, and it underwent a major restoration between 2014 and 2018, which included replacing hundreds of panes and modernizing climate control systems. The Palm House is a key symbol of Kew Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003, attracting millions of visitors annually who are interested not only in botany but also in architectural history.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is the Kew Palm House?

The Palm House is 20 meters high at its highest point.

How many palm species are in the Palm House?

The collection includes over 1,100 palm species.

Is the Palm House a World Heritage site?

Yes, it is part of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2003.