Carpet Gardens
Located by the pier these gardens are the world famous centrepiece of Eastbourne's elegant seafront. Traditional bedding is used to create stunning floral patterns for spring and summer. Spring displays use brightly coloured tulips, pansies and wallflowers. Summer planting includes begonias, petunias, geraniums and other favourites.
During the summer special beds are also planted in geometric patterns in a 'carpet bedding' technique first established by the Victorians. One bed at the west end of the main garden usually has a special theme. This is planted in June and remains until the autumn.
Middle Parade Shrub Beds
Modern innovative shrub beds have replaced the old privet hedges that used to run east and west from the central band stand. A continuous sequence of plants come into flower, leaf and fruit making this a year-round attraction. Mixed with the familiar hebes, lavendar, rosemary and mallows are more unusual shrubs from around the world. Moroccan broom (Cytisus battandieri), daisy bush (Olearia macrodonta) and fuchsia-flowered currant (Ribes speciosum) are three outstanding shrubs amongst more than one hundred different kinds on show. The whole border is punctuated by an impressive row of large cabbage palms (Cordyline sp).
Wish Tower Long Border
If proof were needed that Eastbourne's climate is exceptionally warm and dry compared to surrounding areas then the borders just inland of the Wish Tower are the place to visit. At 150 metres long the Long Border is home to many palm and succulent species as well as bright bedding.
Larger plants include yuccas, ginger, Canary palm, jelly palm, European fan palm and numerous varieties of agave and cabbage palm. The larger perennial plants require little water and are all low maintenance.
Metropole Triangle Garden
A new theme is being developed in the triangular garden just 350 metres east of the pier. Formerly planted with spring and summer bedding the borders are being changed to demonstrate plants from all around the world.
The first phase of planting was done in early summer 2007 and a second planting was completed in the autumn. The garden is planted in separate zones representing North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia with New Zealand.
