Chatsworth House significantly contributed to plant collecting, primarily through the 6th Duke of Devonshire and his head gardener Joseph Paxton, who amassed vast collections of exotic plants like orchids and bananas, introduced new species (like the Cavendish banana), and built innovative structures like Paxton's Glasshouse to cultivate them, establishing Chatsworth as a major center for Victorian horticultural innovation and exotic plant introduction.
Key Figures & Their Roles
William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire: An enthusiastic collector, he sparked the Victorian passion for orchids and exotic plants, investing heavily in acquiring rare specimens.
Joseph Paxton: The visionary head gardener who, with the Duke, designed groundbreaking glasshouses, managed the tropical collections, and cultivated famous plants like the Cavendish banana, notes Chatsworth.
Major Contributions
Exotic Plant Introductions: The estate became famous for its vast collections of orchids (over 300 types by the 1830s), including the now-famous Cavendish banana.
Horticultural Innovation: Paxton's engineering skills led to structures like the Great Conservatory (the largest glasshouse of its time) and The Case, a heated structure for tender plants, writes Chatsworth.
Pioneering Glasshouses: They built innovative glasshouses to create tropical environments, allowing the cultivation of plants previously unseen in Britain, says Chatsworth.
Rock Garden: Inspired by the Duke's travels, the Rock Garden recreated Alpine landscapes with plants like wild currants and bilberries.
Legacy
Chatsworth's extensive archives, including letters and papers related to the Paxtons, preserve this history, showcasing how the estate led botanical exploration and shaped Victorian gardens through collecting, cultivation, and architectural ingenuity.