Kew: The Psychedelic Garden - Mind-altering plants in folklore, superstition and popular culture

The ancient Aztecs, the cannabis-smoking farmers of Neolithic China and the Woodstock hippies. Psychoactive plants have been used by different cultures for thousands of years for everything from shamanic rituals to staying awake. From the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Sandra Lawrence, Psychedelics is a fascinating exploration of the mind-altering plants that for centuries have helped shape the way we see the world. Packed with expert text and stunning botanical illustrations from the Kew archive, this book delves into the folklore, cultural relevance and botanical background of remarkable plants that have long been leveraged to hallucinogenic effect. A gorgeous gifty package, this book taps is both a beautifully illustrated botanical history and quirky cultural reference for plant lovers everywhere.

About the author

Sandra Lawrence is a journalist and author. She writes for the Evening Standard, Guardian, Financial Times, The Times, Londonist.com and the English Garden. She is the London columnist for British Heritage magazine and is on the Q&A panel of experts for History Revealed magazine. Her travel writing is collected on madamepassepartout.com.

Summary

A giftable exploration of mind-altering plants.

Foreword

A giftable exploration of mind-altering plants.

Product details

• Authors: Sandra Lawrence, Lawrence Sandra
• Publisher: Headline Book
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 24.07.2025
• EAN: 9781035422227
• ISBN: 978-1-0354-2222-7
• No. of pages: 208
• Illustrations: 180 gratis colour illustrations50 pic researched colour illustrations
• Series: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Nature, technology > Nature: general, reference works; Nature / Plants / Flowers, NATURE / Plants / General, GARDENING / Flowers / General, HEALTH & FITNESS / Herbal Medications, MEDICAL / Pharmacy, MEDICAL / Alternative & Complementary Medicine, Popular medicine & health, History of Medicine, Gardening: plants, Gardening: plants and cultivation guides, Gardening: flowers and ornamental plants, Pharmacy / dispensing, Popular medicine and health