The Gardens of Villa della Pergola Featured in The Plant Review by the Royal Horticultural Society
The Gardens of Villa della Pergola are featured in the June 2026 issue of The Plant Review, the prestigious journal of the Royal Horticultural Society - one of the world's most authoritative institutions in the fields of gardening, botany and horticulture.
The piece, written by garden historian Charles Quest-Ritson, devotes generous space to the history, landscape and botanical collections of the Gardens, describing Villa della Pergola as one of the most captivating destinations on the Italian Riviera for lovers of plants, historic gardens and Mediterranean landscapes. A recognition of great significance, confirming the international standing of the restoration, conservation and botanical enhancement project that began in 2006.
The article traces the nineteenth-century origins of the villa and its gardens, which took shape within the cosmopolitan world of the British community that, between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, helped define the character of the Ligurian Riviera. Particular attention is given to the rescue of the property from the threat of property development and the subsequent landscape restoration led by Paolo Pejrone, which returned the Gardens to their historic and botanical identity.
Among the elements most celebrated by The Plant Review are the botanical collections that make the Gardens of Villa della Pergola truly unique: Wisterias, Agapanthus, citrus trees, succulents and numerous exotic species perfectly acclimatised to the Mediterranean landscape of Alassio. The journal highlights in particular how the most spectacular moment of summer is the flowering of the Agapanthus - a collection described as the largest in Europe.
The piece also draws attention to the compositional care of the Gardens and the relationship between architecture, terraces, pergolas, balustrades, views of the sea and botanical collections, conveying the image of a living historic garden — one in constant evolution, yet deeply respectful of its own memory.
To be featured in The Plant Review is a significant international recognition for the Gardens of Villa della Pergola, and affirms the value of a journey built on conservation, botanical research, landscape beauty and openness to the public. An achievement that reinforces the Gardens' role as a point of reference for cultural and botanical tourism in Italy and across Europe.
To find out more about The Plant Review and the publications of the Royal Horticultural Society.
We look forward to welcoming you to Alassio, on the Italian Riviera, to discover in person the summer blooms and botanical collections celebrated by the Royal Horticultural Society.