Helen M.
Garden visitor
"A lovely surprise tucked away above Newton Abbot. The world garden idea gives the whole visit a gentle sense of discovery."
“Devon's little outdoor Eden”
Plant World Gardens
A hilltop garden centre near Newton Abbot where the planting follows a map of the world, with rare plants, beautiful views, a nursery and a scenic cafe.
Mark and Julia
Cafe visitors
"We came for the nursery and stayed for lunch. The cafe view is beautiful, and everything felt relaxed and friendly."
Priya S.
Plant enthusiast
"Small enough to enjoy without rushing, but packed with unusual plants. I kept stopping to read labels and take notes."
Graham R.
Coach group organiser
"Our group had a very easy visit. Clear parking, helpful staff, good food arrangements and plenty for everyone to explore."
Anna T.
Family visit
"Peaceful paths, lots of colour and a cafe that worked well for three generations. A simple, happy afternoon out."
David L.
Local gardener
"The nursery is the treat at the end. You see something thriving in the garden, then often find a plant to take home."
Caroline W.
Holiday visitor
"Not a formal estate garden, and better for it. It feels personal, characterful and full of plants chosen by real enthusiasts."
Peter H.
Garden club member
"The planted map makes a great talking point. We spent much longer than expected comparing each area and its planting."
Sarah B.
Cream tea stop
"A proper Devon stop: good cake, fresh air, hilltop views and a gentle wander before heading back to the coast."
Michael F.
Repeat visitor
"It changes every time we visit. There is always a new corner flowering, and the atmosphere is wonderfully unhurried."
Gardens of the World
The first garden laid out as a planted map of the world.
Designed, built and planted in 1986, the four-acre garden represents the five continents through winding paths and regionally inspired planting. Visitors can walk the world map, spot rare and exotic plants seldom seen outside their native lands, and look out over green Devon hills toward the River Teign.
The Cottage Garden
A softer first glimpse before the paths branch into the planted continents.
Winding paths around the world map
Allow at least half an hour for a quick circuit, or longer if you want to linger through every planted continent.
The gardens
A planted atlas of rare and unusual collections.
Plant World was the first garden laid out to represent the five continents, and each area still carries the feel of its source landscape. The route moves from cottage planting into Africa, America, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Asia, with rarities chosen for Devon’s hilltop conditions.
African Garden
Dieramas, agapanthus, crocosmias and moraeas bring colour to the north side of the hill, with plants from cooler, damper African elevations.
American Garden
Conifers, dog’s tooth violets, penstemons and mountain columbines sit alongside Chilean alstroemerias, puyas, fuchsias and monkey puzzle trees.
New Zealand Garden
Tall pittosporums and cabbage palms tower above giant forget-me-nots, white-flowered natives and a tree fern that has survived deep frost.
Australian Garden
Eucalyptus trees planted as seedlings in 1986 now rise above rare alpine shrubs, banksias, hakias and grevilleas from the Australian mountains.
European Garden
Tree heathers, spring bulbs, globe thistles and the giant yellow Gentiana lutea make Europe the first world garden beyond the cottage garden.
Himalayan Garden
One of the garden’s gems, with Himalayan blue poppies, rarer mountain meconopsis, Asiatic primulas and small ponds alive with amphibians.
Siberian Garden
Cold-region planting from Russia and China includes plants raised from seed collected on Sakhalin, where winters can reach minus 40C.
Cottage Garden
Snowdrops, Lenten roses, old-fashioned michaelmas daisies, giant thistles and lupins fill the more traditional cottage garden area.
Mediterranean Garden
A warm, well-drained pocket for sun-lovers such as lavenders, verbascums and large specimens of cistus or rock roses.
Hot Garden
At the top of the hill, the small hot garden now gives an impressive show of hollyhocks in a wide range of colours.
Rare plant nursery
Plants from the garden, ready to take home.
The adjoining nursery was created so visitors could buy plants and trees they had seen growing in the gardens. Many are raised from seed collected on site or propagated by division, with the same emphasis on rare, unusual and garden-worthy plants.
Rare shrubs and trees
Herbaceous treasures
Free nursery entry
Scenic cafe
Light lunches with the hilltop view.
Cafe and shop
A simple cafe, made memorable by the view.
Built in 2006, the cafe replaced the original shed and polytunnel that served drinks and snacks for the garden’s first twenty years. It now has around 40 indoor seats, a handful more outside, and views across the Teign estuary toward Haytor.
Light lunches
- Paninis, toasties and toasted sandwiches
- Jacket potatoes with salad garnish
- Traditional ploughman’s lunches
- Soup of the day with a roll
Local treats
- Homemade cakes and Devon cream teas
- Lattes, cappuccinos and local drinks
- Chutneys, relishes, preserves and fudge
Groups welcome
Garden clubs, families and coach parties.
Plan your visit
Simple, seasonal and easy to enjoy.
Plant World welcomes garden lovers, families, dogs, garden clubs and coach parties. Groups are asked to confirm in writing at least two weeks in advance where possible, especially if food arrangements are needed.
- Opening
- Late March to mid October, daily 9:30am - 4:30pm
- Garden admission
- Day ticket £4, season ticket £7. Kids under 16 go free.
- Nursery & cafe
- Free entry to the nursery and cafe.
- Dogs
- Dogs are very welcome.
Coach drivers can ignore the coach restriction signs when accessing Plant World. The road is wide and safe for access to the garden centre.
Finding us
Between Torquay and Newton Abbot.
From the Penn Inn junction, follow signs to Milber and Combeinteignhead, then continue through mature woodland. Plant World is around one-and-a-half miles out in the countryside, at the very top of the long hill on the left.
- Address
- St Marychurch Road, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 4SE
