Exotic Chilean visitor settling in well

A GIANT, exotic tree which has just taken root in an unusual Kerry garden is set to thrive in the Gulf Stream temperatures of the south-west.

The Chilean Wine Palm (Jubea chilensis), over 10 metres in high and weighing 10 tonnes, has come all the way from a South American nursery and stands out from an elevated site in Kells Gardens.

Believed to be the country’s largest ever imported palm tree, it was shipped here in a climate-controlled container and replanted at its new home on the Ring of Kerry with the help of a crane and forklift.

Billy Alexander, who purchased the gardens last October, has started a restoration project and plans to bring in trees from many parts of the world.

“I hope to have trees that are rarely seen here, trees from Asia, China and Taiwan. This place has fantastic potential and the temperate climate is just brilliant for growing all kinds of exotic plants,” he said.

“You could say the 45 acres is a bit of a jungle at the moment, but we want to keep the jungle effect and let the plants do the talking. We’re uncovering hidden botanical gems including Europe’s largest tree fern forest.”

Mr Alexander described the Chilean Wine Palm as a “statement plant” that would have year-round foliage.

As well as the extensive fern collection, the gardens also feature glades of rhododendrons, a tropical palm garden and Asian bamboo.

An eight-acre, tree fern rain forest was planted in the 1880s and there are plans for a pond garden and bamboo glade.

The restored gardens are set to become a tourist attraction in south Kerry and will open to the public early next year.

Kells Estate was bought by Tralee landowner Rowland Blennerhassett, in 1837 while the gardens were developed by his grandson of the same name.

Restoration work started last October and the gardens were barely accessible at the time. However, much progress as been made since then.