Napoleon’s Garden Island

This book explores the botanical heritage of St Helena, highlighting its diverse flora and advocating for the re-establishment of a botanic garden. Napoleon’s Garden Island details the island's unique history.

St Helena is often remembered primarily as the exile of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, but Napoleon’s Garden Island reveals the island's rich botanical heritage and diverse flora. Nestled in the South Atlantic Ocean, this small island has a unique garden legacy that showcases both exotic and endemic plant species. As a critical stopover for the East India Company, St Helena became a resting point for countless plants transported from Asia and beyond. The island's gardens served as a vital storage space for these flora before they continued their journey to Europe.

The historical significance of St Helena's gardens cannot be understated. During the age of sail, many plants were nurtured in the island's gardens, providing a temporary home for species that would later be introduced to botanic gardens and agricultural settings across the globe. The book highlights how Jamestown transformed into a botanical hub, where plants were carefully tended by enslaved laborers and skilled Chinese gardeners. Among these gardens, the now-reestablished Emperor Napoleon’s Garden stands out, a testament to the emperor's passion for horticulture.

Napoleon’s Garden Island is beautifully illustrated with maps, drawings, and archival materials that bring to life the island's past and present botanical landscape. The narrative not only celebrates the island's unique flora but also advocates for the re-establishment of a botanic garden that would focus on showcasing St Helena's endemic plants, emphasizing the need to preserve this rich botanical heritage for future generations.