Iconic Wimbledon plant under threat from rising temperatures

Lavender and more drought-resistant plants could help replace Wimbledon favourites like hydrangeas in SW19. Neil Stubley, Wimbledon’s head of courts and horticulture, said gardening staff are having to reconsider what is being planted in the grounds due to rising summer temperatures.

Mr Stubley said Wimbledon will have to look towards “more hardy, perennial green leaf” plants, including lavender which require less watering. He said: “Historically, we’ve always had hydrangeas which are very thirsty plants. As part of tradition, we don’t want to get rid of them completely so we then just sort of target and make sure that the areas that we put the more thirsty plants, are in the more shadier places.”

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Mr Stubley, who is working his 31st championships, said they are “looking consciously” at planting less thirsty flora in particularly sunny areas.

He assured Wimbledon fans its gardens would retain its iconic purple, white and green colour scheme.

The UK experienced sweltering conditions last week, with the record June temperature broken three days in a row.

Mr Stubley said while he isn’t concerned this is the new normal, rising temperatures are “inevitable” and already underway.

Met Office scientists warn temperatures in England could reach as high as 45C by 2056.

Mr Stubley said Wimbledon’s head gardener is “constantly” in touch with growers in the Netherlands and regularly visits to see cultivar options.

He added: “Sometimes you can get certain cultivars in the same plant like we do with the turf where actually they’re more drought tolerant.

“So you actually get the same plant and look, but it just lives slightly differently.”

London is bracing for another heatwave, with the mercury expected to climb to the early 30s next week.

Mr Stubley, who is armed with around 25 weather apps, said his 31-strong team are “comfortable” with the current conditions.

He said the weather is “nice and stable”, but there can be challenges when the night temperatures go up or if a hot day is followed by rain.

Every day, data is taken from the 18 championship and 20 practice courts which are also cut to 8 millimetres.

Novak Djokovic said on the opening day that Centre Court felt “more slippery” once the roof was shut, while world number one Jannik Sinner fell while playing Miomir Kecmanovic in a heart-in-mouth moment for the reigning champion.