Kirsty Wilson

How did you get into gardening? 

I’ve always been an outdoor girl and have a degree in horticulture and a diploma in garden design from RBGE/SRUC. I try to use social media to inspire people about plants and connect them with nature, and ultimately we can have a positive impact on the world.  As Herbaceous Supervisor at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh I have to manage other horticulturalists, students and volunteers, I lead tours, write articles, give talks and go on plant hunting expeditions.  I truly have the best job in the world and now the cherry on the cake is that I get to work alongside the amazing Beechgrove team.  I have also worked at Highgrove Gardens for HRH the Prince of Wales, Longwood Gardens in the USA, and managed glasshouses at St Andrews Botanic Garden.

 

What are your gardening likes and dislikes?

I am passionate about all plants and educating people of all ages to the wonders of the natural world as all life depends on plants. I do struggle to find a plant I dislike. One if the wonderful things about gardening is there is always something to learn, discover and captivate your attention.  I am especially interested in designing gardens and greenspace for the future in the form of green roofs, wildflower meadows and rain gardens. Gardens have so many benefits to both people and wildlife and I would love to get the whole nation gardening.

 

What are your most/least favourite plants?

I like plants that have unusual flower colour and foliage textures. As a garden designer I enjoy combinations where plants complement and contrast against one another. I tried to use this to good effect in my gold medal winning Coffee Show Garden at Gardening Scotland in 2019. There the planting pallette was lime green, soft apricot and brown. I also love herbaceous borders packed with perennials and I especially love Meconopsis (the Himalayan poppy).   My least favourite plant has to be poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) which I encountered whilst working in America. It blisters and irritates the skin but thankfully it doesn’t grow in the UK.  

 

What is your home garden like?

I consider the 70 acres at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to be my ‘home garden’.  I also have a large collection of houseplants in my flat, probably too many like a lot of millennials.  One day I will get my own wildflower meadow.

 

What do you do outside of The Beechgrove Garden?

I enjoy being outside surrounded in nature,  climbing hills or exploring gardens with my camera as I am also a keen photographer.   Other interests are floral art, yoga, tennis, skiing, horse riding or just socialising with my friends.