From Violets to Victoria Amazonica: Queen Victoria’s Botanical Legacy
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
May 24, 1819
On this day, dear readers, we celebrate the birth of a monarch whose reign would come to define an entire era - Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Victoria's influence on the world, and indeed on our beloved gardens, cannot be overstated.
Imagine, if you will, the young princess who would ascend to the throne on June 20, 1837.
Little did the world know that her reign would stretch an impressive 63 years and seven months, surpassing all previous British monarchs.
This extraordinary period, aptly named the Victorian era, would leave an indelible mark on history, culture, and yes, even our gardens.
In 2019, as the world celebrated the bicentenary of Victoria's birth, Kensington Palace - her childhood home - paid a most fitting tribute.
Picture, if you will, the sunken garden transformed into a riot of color and fragrance, a floral display that would have surely delighted the Queen herself.
This horticultural homage featured blossoms that were particularly beloved during the Victorian era:
- Heliotropes, with their sweet, vanilla-like scent
- Cannas, bold and tropical in their appearance
- Pelargoniums, often mistakenly called geraniums, with their cheerful blooms
- Begonias, prized for their ability to bring color to shady spots
But amidst all this grandeur, let us not forget the Queen's own favorite flower - the humble violet.
How charming to think of the most powerful woman in the world finding joy in such a modest bloom!
It speaks volumes about Victoria's character and her appreciation for the simple beauties of nature.
Victoria's legacy in the plant world extends far beyond her personal preferences.
Many plants bear her name, a testament to the impact of her reign on botany and horticulture.
Allow me to introduce you to two such regal specimens:
- The Victoria agave (Agave victoriae-reginae)
A compact, slow-growing succulent native to Mexico. Its rigid, dark green leaves form a tight rosette, often likened to a crown. How fitting for a plant named after a queen!
- The giant waterlily, Victoria amazonica
A true marvel of the plant world. Its leaves can grow up to 3 meters in diameter, easily supporting the weight of a child. The flowers of this Amazonian beauty open at night, changing from white to pink over two days. One can almost imagine the wonder of the Victorian explorers upon first encountering this magnificent plant.
As we tend to our gardens today, let us take a moment to appreciate the Victorian influence that still permeates our horticultural practices.
From the vibrant bedding plants that adorn our parks to the exotic specimens in our glasshouses, we owe much to the plant hunters and gardeners of Victoria's reign.
So, dear readers, whether you're nurturing a modest violet or marveling at a giant waterlily, remember the long-reigning queen whose era brought so many of these plants into our gardens.
Happy birthday, Queen Victoria - may your floral legacy continue to bloom for centuries to come!