Welcome to Kew Images - Picture Library of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Explore Kew's unique photographic and botanical art collections, historic archives and contemporary photography.

Images are available for immediate license and download.

We offer an extensive range of botanical subjects from our collections: plant portraits from our Living Collections and items from our Herbarium, Fungarium, the Millennium Seed Bank and Economic Botany Collection, as well as images illustrating Kew’s world-class science expertise, the Gardens, our history, botanists and plant hunters.

Discover our stunning collection of botanical art from Kew's Herbarium, Library, Art and Archives.

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Home > Botanical Art

Botanical Art Collection: Japanese Plants

Japanese Plants Collection
66 Images

Botanical Art Collection: Herbs and Spices

Herbs and Spices Collection
46 Images

Fungi Collection
54 Images

Palms Collection
44 Images

Botanical Art Collection: Cacti and Succulents

Cacti and Succulents Collection
49 Images

Bulbs Collection
109 Images

Orchids Collection
92 Images

Botanical Art Collection: The Honzo Zufu Collection

The Honzo Zufu Collection
63 Images

Trees Collection
21 Images

Botanical Art Collection: William Roxburgh

William Roxburgh Collection
99 Images

Edible Plants Collection
87 Images

Botanical Art Collection: Curtis's Botanical Magazine

Curtis's Botanical Magazine Collection
232 Images

Botanical Art Collection: Marianne North

Marianne North Collection
870 Images

Landscapes Collection
16 Images

Botanical Art Collection: More Botanical Illustrations

More Botanical Illustrations Collection
104 Images

Botanical Art Collection: Papaver somniferum, L. (Opium poppy)

Papaver somniferum, L. (Opium poppy)
Hand coloured engraving, engraved by Weddell after a drawing by Clarke. Published as plate 159 in Stephenson and Churchills Medical Botany, or

Botanical Art Collection: Clitoria ternatea, L

Clitoria ternatea, L
Original illustration from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 1542, 1st April 1813. Watercolour and pencil on paper

Botanical Art Collection: Welwitschia mirabilis, Hook. f

Welwitschia mirabilis, Hook. f
Hand coloured lithograph. Plate 5368 from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published 1863

Botanical Art Collection: Ficus indica (Banyan tree)

Ficus indica (Banyan tree)
Watercolour on paper, no date (late 18th, early 19th century). Hand painted copy of an illustration commissioned by William Roxburgh (1751-1815)

Botanical Art Collection: Indigofera tinctoria (Indigo), 1826

Indigofera tinctoria (Indigo), 1826
Illustration by unknown artist. True indigo is a shrub one to two meters high. It may be an annual, biennial, or perennial, depending on the climate in which it is grown

Botanical Art Collection: Stewartia malacodendron L

Stewartia malacodendron L
Illustration inscribed in large, painted letters, STEWARTIA, Stuartia malacodendron, Catesb. car.3. p.13. tab.13. ; signed and dated lower right corner

Botanical Art Collection: Rhododendron dalhousiae

Rhododendron dalhousiae, watercolour drawing by J D Hooker

Botanical Art Collection: Gossypium herbaceum, Willd. (Cotton)

Gossypium herbaceum, Willd. (Cotton)
Watercolour on paper, no date (late 18th, early 19th century. Hand painted copy of an illustration commissioned by William Roxburgh)

Botanical Art Collection: Gladiolus cruentus, T. Moore (Blood-red Gladiolus)

Gladiolus cruentus, T. Moore (Blood-red Gladiolus)
Original illustration from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 5810, 1st December 1869. Watercolour and pencil on paper

Botanical Art Collection: Nelumbium speciosum, Willd. (Lotus)

Nelumbium speciosum, Willd. (Lotus)
Watercolour on paper, no date (late 18th early 19th century). Hand painted copy of an illustration commissioned by William Roxburgh

Botanical Art Collection: Jasminum scandens, Willd

Jasminum scandens, Willd
Watercolour on paper, no date (late 18th, early 19th century). Hand painted copy of an illustration commissioned by William Roxburgh (1751-1815)

Botanical Art Collection: Nymphaea rubra, R

Nymphaea rubra, R
Watercolour on paper, no date (late 18th early 19th century). Hand painted copy of an illustration commissioned by William Roxburgh

Botanical Art Collection: Dillenia speciosa Thunb

Dillenia speciosa Thunb
Watercolour on paper, no date (late 18th early 19th century). Hand painted copy of an illustration commissioned by William Roxburgh

Botanical Art Collection: Pharbitis learii (Ipomoea learii, Mr Lears Gaybine )

Pharbitis learii (Ipomoea learii, Mr Lears Gaybine )
Hand coloured engraving, (engraved by Swan after Curtiss drawing). Plate 3928 from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published March 1842

Botanical Art Collection: Roupellia grata Wall. & Hook. (Cream-fruit)

Roupellia grata Wall. & Hook. (Cream-fruit)
Original illustration from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 4466, 1st September 1849. Watercolour and pencil on paper

Botanical Art Collection: Haemanthus coccineus, L. (Salmon-coloured Blood-flower)

Haemanthus coccineus, L. (Salmon-coloured Blood-flower)
Original illustration from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 1075, 1st January 1808. Watercolour and pencil on paper

Botanical Art Collection: Pistia stratiotes Linn. (Water Lettuce)

Pistia stratiotes Linn. (Water Lettuce)
Original illustration from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 4564, 1st February 1851. Watercolour and pencil on paper. Although the specimen figured is from Jamaica, Pistia stratiotes L

Botanical Art Collection: Senecio macroglossus DC

Senecio macroglossus DC
Original illustration from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 6149, 1st February 1875. Watercolour and pencil on paper. Cultivated at Kew from seeds sent by Mr Sanderson in 1868

Botanical Art Collection: Tigridia pavonia, 1802-1816

Tigridia pavonia, 1802-1816
Hand-coloured lithograph on paper by Pierre-Joseph Redoute, 1802-1816. Artwork from Les Liliac?(C)es, volume 1, plate 6

Botanical Art Collection: Scilla bifolia, 1804

Scilla bifolia, 1804
Illustration of Scilla bifolia, commonly known as squill or glory-of-the-snow. Hand-coloured lithograph on paper by Sydenham Edwards, 1804

Botanical Art Collection: Narcissus minor, 1787

Narcissus minor, 1787
Illustration of Narcissus minor, commonly known as daffodil or wild daffodil. Hand-coloured lithograph on paper by Sydenham Edwards, 1787. Artwork from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, volume 1, plate 6

Botanical Art Collection: Vanda coerulea (Blue vanda), 1862

Vanda coerulea (Blue vanda), 1862
Illustration of Vanda coerulea by Walter Hood Fitch, 1862. Artwork from Select Orchidaceous Plants by Robert Warner, 1862; t. 18

Botanical Art Collection: Rhododendron cinnabarinum

Rhododendron cinnabarinum
Watercolour drawing of Rhododendron cinnabarinum by Joseph Dalton Hooker. Kew Collection

Botanical Art Collection: Bambusa balcooa, Roxb. (Bamboo)

Bambusa balcooa, Roxb. (Bamboo)
Watercolour on paper, no date (late 18th, early 19th century). Hand painted copy of an illustration commissioned by William Roxburgh (1751-1815)

Botanical Art Collection: Gossypium religiosum, Willd. (Nankeen or brown cotton)

Gossypium religiosum, Willd. (Nankeen or brown cotton)
Watercolour on paper, no date (late 18th early 19th century). Hand painted copy of an illustration commissioned by William Roxburgh

Botanical Art Collection: Chaulmoogra odorata, R. (Gynocardia odorata)

Chaulmoogra odorata, R. (Gynocardia odorata)
Watercolour on paper, no date (late 18th early 19th century). Hand painted copy of an illustration commissioned by William Roxburgh. This species is native to the Silhet district

Botanical Art Collection: Pandanus candelabrum, P. Beauv. (Lustre Screw-pine)

Pandanus candelabrum, P. Beauv. (Lustre Screw-pine)
Original illustration from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 5014, 1st November 1857. Watercolour and pencil on paper. W.J

Botanical Art Collection: Tacca artocarpifolia, Seem

Tacca artocarpifolia, Seem
Original illustration from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 6124, 1st October 1874. Watercolour and pencil on paper

Botanical Art Collection: Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. (Bell-flowered Spathodea)

Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. (Bell-flowered Spathodea)
Original illustration from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 5091, 1st January 1859. Watercolour and pencil on paper. This species is a native of western tropical Africa

Botanical Art Collection: Protea laevis, R. Br. (Smooth Protea)

Protea laevis, R. Br. (Smooth Protea)
Original illustration from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 2439, 1st October 1823 Watercolour and pencil on paper. This species is a native of the Cape of Good Hope

Botanical Art Collection: Richardia hastata, Hook. (Halbert-leaved Richardia)

Richardia hastata, Hook. (Halbert-leaved Richardia)
Original illustration from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as 5176, 1st April 1860. Watercolour and pencil on paper

Botanical Art Collection: Protea speciosa (L. ) L. (Splendid Protea)

Protea speciosa (L. ) L. (Splendid Protea)
Original illustration from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 1183, 1st March 1809. Watercolour and pencil on paper. This species is a native of the Cape of Good Hope

Botanical Art Collection: Babiana stricta (┼Æ. ) corolla purpurea Ker Gawl. (Purple- flowered Babiana)

Babiana stricta (┼Æ. ) corolla purpurea Ker Gawl. (Purple- flowered Babiana)
Original illustration from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 1052, 1st October 1807. Watercolour and pencil on paper

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Biodiversity loss, climate change, rapidly-spreading pests and diseases combined with a soaring human population and fragile food security are negatively impacting communities around the world