American Prairie

The story so far

The journey of our American Prairie began in 2019, when a group of Wakehurst horticulturalists travelled to North America. In collaboration with our US partners, the team hand-collected millions of wild seeds from native prairies, to be planted right here in Sussex.  

The seeds were then brought to the Millennium Seed Bank, where different species were mixed together to create the perfect blend, before being sown across the landscape in 2020.  

A selection of seeds were kept in the nursery, nurtured by our expert team to successfully germinate into 50,000 plug plants, each hand-planted a year later. 

We designed the landscape in collaboration with landscape architects LUC (Land Use Consultants) and Philadelphia-based Larry Weaner Landscape Associates. Larry joined us in person to share his expertise with our team. 

The prairie first came into flower in the summer of 2021, an unmissable blanket of yellow, home to pioneering plants Coreopsis and Rubeckia. It was then mowed in preparation for the remaining plants that were ready to be hand-planted into the landscape. 

Why the American Prairie?

As a botanic garden, we plant phytogeographically, meaning the plants are grouped according to where they grow in the world. 

Our climate and soil are particularly suited to the beautiful plant communities of the prairies, and we are excited to see how they thrive and develop in Wakehurst’s gardens. 

The Millennium Seed Bank collaborates closely with conservation partners in North America. Through this landscape, we have a unique opportunity to share our knowledge and resource through a pioneering conservation landscape and living collection. 

The American Prairie will be a floral complement to our dramatic North American woodland, Horsebridge Wood, as well as acting as a bridge between the more formal gardens and the wilder landscape beyond, radiating across Wakehurst’s 535 acres.