Powerscourt House and Gardens in Co. Wicklow, Ireland.Tourism Ireland
A new study has revealed the world's most vibrant gardens, and Powerscourt Gardens in Co Wicklow has ranked in the top ten.
As we leave the chilly days of winter behind, new research by hotel chain Premier Inn has identified the world’s most vibrant gardens by analyzing their intensity of color in each location.
To determine the most vibrant gardens, Premier Inn conducted a study using unedited images of more than 150 gardens from around the world sourced via Google Earth. The HSB (Hue, Saturation, Brightness) values were extracted from each image, with a primary focus on saturation as a measure of color intensity. A vibrancy score was then calculated by combining saturation and brightness levels.
The research revealed that Kensington Palace Garden in the UK takes the top spot as the world’s most vibrant garden, with a vibrancy score of 254.
The UK dominates the top three, and ranking overall, with Kew Gardens claiming second place and Inveraray Castle and Gardens following closely behind, scoring 250 and 248.4 respectively. The Kyoto Garden in Holland Park and Oxford Botanic Garden also make the top ten.
Rosedal de Palermo in Argentina secures fourth place as the highest-ranked non-European garden, earning a vibrancy score of 239.9. Meanwhile, Germany makes its mark with Nymphenburg Palace Gardens ranking sixth and Herrenhausen Gardens near Hannover ranking ninth, scoring 231.3 and 225, respectively.
Rounding out the top ten, Powerscourt Gardens in Ireland, which scored 226, impresses with its lush greenery and ornate terraces in seventh, while the Dubai Miracle Garden in tenth is the only Asian entry.
Powerscourt House and Gardens in Co. Wicklow. IRELAND'S CONTENT POOL
Europe claims eight out of the top ten most vibrant gardens. Though outside the topflight, Oceania has plenty of vibrant gardens, Auckland Botanic Gardens in New Zealand ranks 11th with a vibrancy score of 220, and Fitzroy Gardens in Australia follows closely in 12th with a score of 219, narrowly missing out on a top ten spot.
A spokesperson from Premier Inn commented: “As we head into spring and then summer, there’s no better time to pay a visit to any of the world’s beautiful gardens and experience them at their most vibrant. With so many different styles of garden to explore, it can be very relaxing to stroll through winding paths and admire both the blooms and artistry that goes into creating them.
"Our research highlights just how rich in color these spaces are, from the carefully designed floral displays at Kensington Palace Garden to the world-class plant collections at Kew and the striking landscapes of Inveraray Castle. With longer days and nature in full bloom, these gardens offer the perfect setting for a day out.”
The World’s Most Vibrant Gardens
- Kensington Palace Garden. UK
- Kew Gardens, UK
- Inveraray Castle and Gardens, UK
- Rosedal de Palermo, Argentina
- Kyoto Garden, Holland Park, UK
- Nymphenburg Palace Gardens, Germany
- Powerscourt Gardens, Ireland
- Oxford Botanic Garden, UK
- Herrenhausen Gardens, Germany
- Dubai Miracle Garden, Dubai