The Stephen Hawking Garden for Motor Neurone Disease
16 May 2010 | 1 min read
By garden designer Sue Hayward.This garden reflects the passage of time through the evolution of plants, starting with some of our oldest plants including Ginkgo biloba and the Wollemi pine.
The lower garden features plants that we might be able to grow in the UK if climate change continues, offering a glimpse into a possible future.
Professor Stephen Hawking, who has Motor Neurone Disease, is the inspiration behind this garden.
The dark swirling water feature acts as an analogy for being diagnosed with the disease. A curved stone folly represents a protected and safe place, symbolising the support given by the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Plants list
Click any plant name below to read more and to add to your own plants list.
Hot and dry tolerant
Acaena saccaticupula 'Blue haze'
Acacia dealbata
Acca sellowiana (Feijoa sellowiana)
Albizia julibrissin
Arbutus unedo
Atriplex halimus
Buxus macrophylla japonica
Ceratostigma willmotianum (plumbaginoides)
Cerastium tomentosum - ground cover
Citrus aurantium
Convolvulus cneorum
Eryobotria japonica
Euphobia mellifera
Ficus carica
Hibiscus syriacus
Laurus nobilis
Leptospurmum
Lychnis coronaria alba
Magnolia kobus
Melianthus major
Myrtus communis
Nandina domestica
Nerium pleander
Olearia
Olea europea
Paulownia tomentosa
Pittosporum tobira
Phlomis fruticosa
Plumbago
Punica granatum
Pinus mugo Mops
Rosa rugosa
Rosmarinus officiale
Santolina charycyparus
Sophora japonica
Tanacetum argenteum - ground cover
Teucrium fruticans
Trachaelospurmum jasminoides
Acanthus spinosus
Erigeron karvinskianus
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Lavandula dentate
Thymus
Amaryllis belladonna
Iris
Moist and damp tolerant
Asarum europium - ground cover
Athyrium felix-femina
Blechnum spicant
Chusquea culeou
Cycas revolute
Dicksonia Antarctica
Equisetum
Ginkgo biloba
Gallium odoratum - ground cover
Hydrangea quercifolia
Lysichiton cantscatensis
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Osmunda regalis
Onoclea sensibilis
Rogersia podophylla
Rheum palmatum
Soleirolia soleirolii
Dry shade
Pachysandra terminalis
Tellima grandiflora
Liriope muscari
Asplenium scolopendrium
Hedera helix erecta
Planting in Walls
Alchemilla alpine
Blechnum penna marina
General conditions
Araucaria araucana
Hedera hibernica
Fatsia japonica
Polystichum setiferum