THE PICTON GARDEN COLWALL 2020

The garden is part of Old Court Nurseries. It has evolved slowly, since the mid 1970’s, when it was created as stock beds to grow the massive collection of plants gathered by Percy Picton in addition to the existing collection of michaelmas daisies inherited from Ernest Ballard. Although Percy’s home garden, near the nursery, was one third of an acre, it was only large enough to meet his desire for the rare and unusual and had no space for the quantity of plants required for commercial production.

It was not known as The Picton Garden until 1987 when a charity called The Percy Picton Memorial Fund was established. Percy had died in 1984 and his son Paul with Paul’s wife, Meriel were in charge of the nursery and ever expanding garden. The garden remains as home for stock plants and a showcase for Old Court Nurseries, including the Plant Heritage collection of Autumn Flowering Asters. Nursery and garden are now in the very capable hands of Paul and Meriel’s daughter, Helen and her husband Ross Barbour.

The nursery and garden are open to visitors in July. You can find the opening times and get more information at