Wisteria sinensis — The Queen of Quad

There are some plants around Teddy Hall that quietly sit in the background, and then there are plants like Wisteria sinensis that completely command your attention.

This is one plant that’s pretty hard to miss in Quad. As you walk through the Lodge, it just hits you — wow. Whether you’re approaching from any staircase, there it is, draped across the Quad in all its glory.

At this time of year, when there isn’t a huge amount else flowering within the Quad itself, the timing is perfect. You don’t really want anything distracting from this plant anyway. It deserves to be the centre of attention.

The flower racemes can reach nearly a metre in length, cascading down in spectacular fashion, and the fragrance is absolutely intoxicating. It’s one of those plants that stops people in their tracks.

But displays like this don’t happen by accident. Wisteria is not a plant for the faint-hearted when it comes to maintenance. A lot of people grow these at home and don’t realise just how much work is involved to achieve this sort of result. To keep it looking this good, it needs regular training, careful pruning, and ongoing attention throughout the year.

Melianthus major — The Honey Flower

Situated next to the Chapel, Melianthus major is one of those plants that can easily be overlooked at first glance — but once you truly notice it, it’s impossible to forget.

Commonly known as the Honey Flower or Lion’s Ear, this striking plant originates from South Africa and brings an almost exotic presence to the gardens of Teddy Hall.

Its foliage alone is enough to stop you in your tracks. The leaves are beautifully feathery with a soft grey, glaucous colouring that gives the plant an almost silvery appearance. After rainfall, it becomes even more spectacular, as raindrops gather and hang across the foliage like tiny beads of glass, perfectly globulated across the leaf surface.

And then come the flowers.

Deep crimson-red tubular blooms rise proudly above the silvery foliage, creating an incredible contrast that makes the whole plant glow with colour. It’s a real showstopper and, in my opinion, one of the most underrated plants in the gardens.

The name Melianthus itself comes from the Greek words meli, meaning honey, and anthos, meaning flower — quite literally, “Honey Flower.”

A dramatic, architectural plant with beautiful texture, colour and presence, and one that deserves far more attention than it often receives.

Eccremocarpus scaber, the Chilean glory flower

This vibrant climber can be found in the churchyard, climbing some of the monolith Yew trees. It hails from the mountain valleys of Chile and is known for its rapid growth and dazzling colour. Often called the glory flower or the glory vine, its small, tubular orange and red blooms dangle like lanterns, climbing effortlessly up walls and trellises. The foliage, delicate and fern-like, provides a perfect backdrop for the fiery blooms. A true showstopper, this plant is a hidden gem in the gardens, bringing a taste of Chilean charm to our corner of the world.

Euphorbia mellifera – The Honey sentinel

Sited next to staircase 4, also known as the honey spurge. This elegant perennial in the Euphorbiacae family, hails from the Canary Islands, but it’s found a home in our gardens here. With elongated long leaves and tall, upright stems, it’s a real visual anchor. But its beauty goes beyond looks—when the flowers bloom, they give off a sweet, honey-like scent, another honey scented plant I hear you say! It’s a must for all you honey lovers, that drifts through the air, attracting pollinators and delighting all who pass by. A true standout plant—both for its form and its fragrance.