Cornwall


<p>Spring comes early to Cornwall and mid-February onwards offers one of the most spectacular and underrated displays of the year. Here are some of the best places to admire the frothy pinks and white blooms that appear long before the snowdrops fade.</p>



<p>Here are the best to visit in February. Many more gardens will be re-opening in March, and Cornwall&#8217;s Spring Story Bloom-ometer count is under way &#8211; you can find more about <a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/cornwall-spring-story-magnolia-great-gardens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">last year&#8217;s Spring Story here</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trebah-garden-mawnan-smith"><a href="https://www.trebahgarden.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trebah Garden</a>, Mawnan Smith</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Trebah-1.jpeg" alt="magnolia in flower at Trebah garden" class="wp-image-22447" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Trebah-1.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Trebah-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Trebah-1-720x480.jpeg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Trebah-1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Trebah-1-787x525.jpeg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Trebah Gardens © Emily Whitfield Wicks</figcaption></figure>



<p>This glorious steep-sided sub-tropical garden winds it way through the 100-year-old rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias which create a riot of pinks, until suddenly you pop out on the private beach on the banks of the unspoilt tidal river, the Helford. Rated as one of the best 80 gardens in the world, Trebah is often named by the people we interview as a personal favourite. Look out for the open air theatre and extensive children’s playground as well as the maze.</p>



<p><strong>Visit</strong>: Trebah is open all year round and every day from 9.30am, no pre-booking required. There is a café and the site is dog-friendly; not suitable for manual wheelchairs but you can pre-book a Tramper mobility scooter.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lost-gardens-of-heligan-pentewan-st-austell"><a href="https://www.heligan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lost Gardens of Heligan</a>, Pentewan, St Austell</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Heligan-1.jpeg" alt="full bloom champion magnolia at the lost gardens of heligan, cornwall" class="wp-image-22442" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Heligan-1.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Heligan-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Heligan-1-720x480.jpeg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Heligan-1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Heligan-1-787x525.jpeg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lost Gardens of Heligan Cornwall © Emily Whitfield Wicks</figcaption></figure>



<p>Experience the awakening of their fabulous collection of historic shrubs and explore the ‘National Collection of Camellias and Rhododendrons introduced to Heligan pre-1920’ – Heligan’s expert gardeners recommend taking in beauties like the tree above <a href="https://www.heligan.com/plan-your-visit/when-to-visit/spring-gardens-at-heligan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">from mid-March</a> for full glory, but February half term should see blooms starting to appear. </p>



<p><strong>Visit:</strong> Heligan is open daily, all year round. Dog- and child-friendly.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trewidden-gardens-penzance"><a href="https://trewidden.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trewidden Gardens</a>, Penzance</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Trewidden.jpeg" alt="magnolia at trewidden garden Cornwall" class="wp-image-22445" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Trewidden.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Trewidden-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Trewidden-720x480.jpeg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Trewidden-768x511.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Trewidden-788x525.jpeg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gardens in Cornwall to visit in February</figcaption></figure>



<p>Famous for magnolias and camellias, this beautiful and tranquil 15 acre garden with a tea room, plant and gift sales is near to Penzance. Forming part of the historic <a href="http://bolithoestates.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bolitho Estate,</a> Trewidden Garden is also home to Trewidden House, a resplendent 19th Century manor house, available to rent for the last time in 2024.</p>



<p><strong>Visit:</strong> Gardens re-open <strong>Sat 14 February</strong> – October, 10.30 – 5.30pm ( last admission 4.30pm), café and tearooms open 9.30 – 4.30pm. Dogs welcome on leads.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-glendurgan-mawnan-smith"><a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/glendurgan-garden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Glendurgan</a>, Mawnan Smith</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="477" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Glendurgan-2-RB-2019-720x477.jpg" alt="magnolias Glendurgan" class="wp-image-22455" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Glendurgan-2-RB-2019-720x477.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Glendurgan-2-RB-2019-300x199.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Glendurgan-2-RB-2019-768x509.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Glendurgan-2-RB-2019-792x525.jpg 792w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/Glendurgan-2-RB-2019.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Magnolias in Cornwall</figcaption></figure>



<p>Three valleys join into one at the National Trust garden at Glendurgan, where a beautiful and intriguing blend of exotic and native plants thrive – including magnolias and camellias.</p>



<p><strong>Visit:</strong> Gardens re-open <strong>Sat 14 February</strong>, from 10.30am &#8211; 5pm. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/02/The-Nares-Spring-Story-Grant-Alexander-Marketing-Manager-1000x667.jpeg" alt="Cornwall’s Spring Story was founded by Toby Ashworth of The Nare Hotel, in partnership with the Great Gardens of Cornwall. " class="wp-image-36367" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/02/The-Nares-Spring-Story-Grant-Alexander-Marketing-Manager-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/02/The-Nares-Spring-Story-Grant-Alexander-Marketing-Manager-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/02/The-Nares-Spring-Story-Grant-Alexander-Marketing-Manager-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2025/02/The-Nares-Spring-Story-Grant-Alexander-Marketing-Manager.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><em>Cornwall’s Spring Story was founded by Toby Ashworth of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.narehotel.co.uk/location/cornwall/springstory" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Nare Hote</a>l, in partnership with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greatgardensofcornwall.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Great Gardens of Cornwall</a>. It was in response to the fact that, by waiting until May, many garden lovers were missing the most splendid sight of all – the flowering of the magnolias – which occurred in February and March each year, earlier than in other parts of the country.</em></p>



<p><em>The Great Gardens of Cornwall is a collection of 14 of the best-known, largest, most historically and horticulturally important gardens in Cornwall. Spread across Cornwall, from a tidal estuary on the River Tamar, to the tip of the Isles of Scilly, the 14 gardens include: Antony Woodland Gardens, Bonython Estate Gardens, Caerhays Castle Spring Gardens, the Eden Project, Lamorran Gardens, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Trebah Garden, Tregothnan, Tregrehan Garden, Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, Tresco Abbey Garden, Trewidden, Minack Theatre and Trewithen.</em></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/cornwall-spring-story-magnolia-great-gardens/">Last year&#8217;s Spring Story</a>!</li>



<li><a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/for-kids/half-term-february-cornwall/">Best things to do over Feb half term with kids in Cornwall</a></li>



<li><a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/walks-near-me/snowdrops/">Snowdrops everywhere! Where to find them in Cornwall</a></li>
</ul>


Cornwall’s best gardens for magnolias and camellias this February

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