Book
In bloom: how plants changed our world
- Abstract:
-
This book accompanies the special exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum, In Bloom: How Plants Changed Our World on display from 19 March - 16 August 2026.
What do we really know about the plants and flowers in our gardens and window boxes? Beyond their beauty, many have hidden histories – tales of exploration, obsession, and knowledge. Featuring over 100 artworks and objects, including drawings, paintings, rare prints, and ceramics, In Bloom explores our changing relationship with the natural world. From the fascinating stories of curiosity and ingenuity of early plant explorers to the networks that shaped global trade, this exhibition reveals how the pursuit of exotic plants transformed landscapes, economies, and cultures, leaving a legacy that still shapes our world today.
Flowers and plants are a staple of British life. Nearly 40% of our population considers themselves to be gardeners, making this and associated activities a national pursuit. And yet, while we hold endless discussions over how to seed, grow, and disseminate our cherished plants, we still known relatively little about how they were collected, exchanged, circulated, identified, and modified, and how much art has shaped our understanding and appreciation of them.
This publication explores some of these plant stories through highlights from Oxford’s collections. Bringing together historical and scientific expertise, art and material culture, traditional and contemporary artworks, this book ultimately reflects on the long-lasting impact of flora on our society – and of us on it.
- Publication status:
- Published
Actions
Access Document
- Publication website:
- https://www.ashmolean.org/exhibition/in-bloom-how-plants-changed-our-world
Authors
Contributors
- Institution:
- University of Oxford
- Division:
- MPLS
- Department:
- Biology
- Oxford college:
- Christ Church
- Role:
- Editor
- ORCID:
- 0000-0002-0186-122X
- Institution:
- University of Oxford
- Division:
- GLAM
- Department:
- Ashmolean Museum
- Oxford college:
- Oriel College
- Role:
- Editor
- ORCID:
- 0000-0003-0971-7983
- Institution:
- University of Oxford
- Division:
- GLAM
- Department:
- Ashmolean Museum
- Oxford college:
- St Cross College
- Role:
- Editor
- ORCID:
- 0000-0002-5888-7041
- Publisher:
- Ashmolean Museum
- Pages:
- 1-224
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-09
- Edition:
- 1
- ISBN-10:
- 1910807745
- ISBN-13:
- 9781910807743
- Language:
-
English
- Keywords:
- Pubs id:
-
2307643
- Local pid:
-
pubs:2307643
- Deposit date:
-
2026-05-20
- ARK identifier:
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
- Copyright date:
- 2026
- Rights statement:
- Copyright © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, 2026.
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