Scone Palace

About the garden

Owned by

Lord & Lady Mansfield

Scone Palace lies in the heart of Perthshire and is surrounded by more than 100 acres of glorious grounds filled with magnificent trees, which are under planted with pockets of gardens in a tranquil woodland setting. One of the finest specimens is a sycamore tree that was planted by King James VI of Scotland 400 years ago – another link with Scone’s historic past as the Crowning Place of the Scottish Kings. The floor below these splendid trees is the first to spring to life when snowdrops and daffodils welcome in the new season. These displays line the three walks which take visitors around the gardens and grounds where the highlight is the multitude of daffodils planted on the old Monks Playgreen.

This is also home to the Murray Star Maze, designed by the renowned Adrian Fisher in which more than 1,000 beech and 1,000 copper beech trees have been planted to create a maze with a unique tartan effect. Under the canopies of the trees grow the rhododendrons, which light up the gardens with a colourful, late spring display. Accompanied by laburnum and Philadelphus weigelas are the perfect backdrop to the herbaceous perennials growing in the mixed borders of the Flower Garden.

Plant hunter David Douglas was born in Scone and a specimen of his most famous introduction, ‘The Douglas Fir’, which was grown from seed collected by him, stands proudly in the grounds. A pavilion celebrating his work is also start to ‘The Douglas Trail’, which leads around the grounds and highlights modern-day cultivars of the trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals.