In a notable shift due to the effects of climate change, fig and almond trees are thriving in Britain, thanks to the decreasing frequency of frost, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
These plants, traditionally associated with warmer climates, are flourishing in RHS gardens across the country, marking a significant change in the types of plants that can be grown in the UK.
Almond trees, native to the Mediterranean region, were planted at the RHS’s Wisley garden in Surrey several years ago.
This year, the trees have produced their first successful fruiting, thanks to the milder winter. The absence of frost has allowed these traditionally heat-loving trees to thrive, with experts noting that this trend could continue as warmer conditions persist.
Similarly, fig trees, which are typically ill-suited to the UK’s cooler, wetter climate, have been successfully planted outside for the first time at RHS’s Hyde Hall garden in Essex.
Fig trees are known for their resilience during long, dry spells but are not typically able to survive the UK’s unpredictable weather.
However, the milder conditions and fewer frosts have provided an ideal environment for them to grow.
Additionally, RHS gardeners have introduced cacti to the drier areas of the garden, further reflecting a shift towards plants better suited to warmer, drier climates.
The trend of milder winters is part of a broader climate shift, with data from the Met Office revealing a significant reduction in frost days in the last decade.
Between 2011 and 2020, there were 16% fewer days of air frost and 14% fewer days of ground frost compared to the previous 30-year period, from 1981 to 2010. These changes have had a noticeable impact on plant growth and survival across the UK.
RHS horticulturists are adapting to these new climate realities by rethinking the types of plants they cultivate.
Many plants that were once suited to the UK’s traditional weather patterns are being phased out in favor of species more likely to thrive in the changing environment.
The RHS is also expanding its experimentation with plants that are not only frost-resistant but can withstand extreme weather events, such as droughts and unseasonal frosts.
Tim Upson, the RHS’s Director of Horticulture, emphasized that while the 2024 growing season was marked by excessive rainfall, plant survival depends on a combination of factors.
“What’s important is that we don’t replace like-for-like but continuously build our knowledge so that what we plant next is more likely to survive the contradictions in weather we’re set to see,” Upson said.
While the decline in frosts presents new opportunities for Mediterranean plants, the UK’s gardeners must remain cautious.
In recent years, unexpected frost events have wiped out certain plants, such as the sun-loving hebes, which had begun to flourish in the milder winters. As Upson notes, “As always in a garden, experimentation and adaptation is the name of the game.”
The RHS’s ongoing research into climate-adaptive gardening is critical as the UK faces increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
The organization continues to monitor how various plants respond to these shifts and adjust its plant selections accordingly, aiming to create gardens that can endure whatever extremes the future may hold.
