Garden Eras
Step through time with us and discover the plants that once filled kitchens, gardens, and meadows of Britain. We’ve grouped our plants into four “eras” — Medieval, Georgian, Victorian, and Modern — to give you a taste of how food and gardening have changed across history.
Why these eras? Because each represents a turning point in how people grew, cooked, and lived with plants. From monastery gardens and herbal remedies, to Georgian dining fashions, Victorian plant-hunting adventures, and the resilience of 20th century crops, every age tells its own story through what was grown and eaten.
Simple, hearty, and full of wild herbs and foraged greens. These were the plants of survival, medicine, and daily bread.
A time of refinement and new flavours. The Georgians embraced both traditional “pot herbs” and elegant ingredients that found their way into fashionable kitchens.
The great plant collectors’ era. From allotments to glasshouses, Victorians made gardening a national passion and introduced exotic vegetables alongside old favourites.
The age of resilience and reinvention. From “forgotten” crops like Jerusalem artichokes and tiger nuts to perennial vegetables, these plants still deserve a place in future gardens.
Together, these eras show how gardening isn’t just about food , it’s a living history. By growing them today, you’re helping to keep that story alive.