The Garden

The Robinson Garden at Earlscliffe is situated on the coast of the Howth peninsula, just north of Dublin city, at a latitude of 53.3º north. It shares the same latitude as cities such as Manchester in England, Hamburg in Germany, the southern part of the Hudson Bay and Edmonton in Canada, and Minsk in Russia. In fact, it is even further north than Newfoundland.

Despite its proximity to the North Pole rather than the equator, the garden boasts a remarkable set of plants - bananas, tree ferns, South African Erica, and a diverse range of palms thriving outdoors throughout the year, without any need for winter protection.

Earlscliffe Location

This ability to support such a diverse range of plants cannot be attributed solely to horticultural expertise; it owes much to the exceptionally favourable microclimate in the area. The garden's south-facing slope benefits from its proximity to the sea, as well as the presence of the 180-meter high Hill of Howth on its northern side.

Moreover, the warm current from the Gulf of Mexico, which almost encircles Howth, further enhances the peninsula's ability to nurture an extensive array of plant species. In fact, it is believed that Howth can cultivate a wider range of plants than any other place at a similar latitude.

The auspicious location is utilised to conduct tests on the climatic resilience of plants from all five continents. Notably, no artificial protection is provided to any plants, even during the coldest weather, enabling realistic insights into their hardiness to be obtained.