Stepping through the doorway into a dimly lit shop, a weathered sign reads Eden’s Apothecary.

The Apothecary Garden by Horticultural Apprentices from The Eden Project – Image Credit Rob Donald

The Apothecary Garden by Horticultural Apprentices from The Eden Project – Image Credit Rob Donald

The dark, wooden shelves are overflowing with tinctures, powders and potions stored in glass bottles. Dried herbs and roots are scattered across every surface, while flowers hang in rows from the beams, patiently awaiting their use. From the floorboards, herbs sprout, and moss emerges from hidden nooks and crannies. Bushy, green foliage grows from the fireplace as plants creep their way in.

A discerning apothecary gathers plants from the garden, carefully crafting recipes and mixing remedies from the myriad ingredients at their disposal. The space is alive with the rhythm of healing, where the wisdom of the past intertwines with the science of today and the potential of the future.

Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) stand tall, their vibrant blooms deceptively beautiful – poisonous to the untrained, yet a potent cardiotonic in the hands of a skilled herbalist.

The ruby red foliage of Lobelia cardinalis pokes through the undergrowth. A toxic plant that harbours lobeline – an alkaloid that interacts with dopamine and nicotinic receptors, with the potential for treating addiction and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.

Time-honoured herbal healers grow beside plants with newfound pharmaceutical promise.

Our intention is to educate visitors about the therapeutic properties of plants, from the exotic to the everyday species with remarkable properties, bridging ancient folkloric traditions and modern scientific advancements, biodiversity and sustainability, and nature’s power to heal.

The plants used in The Apothecary Garden will form part of a pharmaceuticals exhibit at The Eden Project, to be launched in 2026.

Edenproject.com/work-at-eden/apprenticeships-at-the-eden-project