The rediscovery of ornamental shrubs from the XIX century historic gardens in Piedmont Region, Italy

During the XVIII century, predominantly English and German plant hunters traveled through eastern countries, introducing exotic woody ornamental plants to Europe. This study investigates the ornamental shrubs cultivated in the historic gardens of the XIX century in the Piedmont Region (northwest Italy). Xavier Kurten (1769-1840), Marcellino Roda (1814-1892), and his brother Giuseppe Roda (1821-1895) established a distinctive style rooted in the English naturalistic garden approach. Their gardens and nurseries housed a variety of ornamental shrubs. Presently, the Park of Monticello d’Alba Castle in the Cuneo Province is undergoing restoration (NextGenerationEU Program, Recovery and Resilience Facility – RRF – instrument, 2022-2025). Xavier Kurten and Marcellino Roda contributed to this historical park between 1827 and 1839. Primarily, extensive research was conducted on the work of the Roda, utilizing various documents such as projects, iconographies, and notes collected from that period. Within the park of Monticello, a range of shrubs including Crataegus spp., Viburnus spp., Rosa spp., Cornus spp., Ceanothus spp., Hibiscus syriacus L., and Syringa vulgaris L. were found. Additionally, to identify these ornamental shrubs, bibliographical research delved into local ancient catalogs published by the Roda family in the XIX and XX centuries. This exploration led to the discovery and identification of numerous botanical species of ornamental shrubs cultivated and propagated by the Roda family. The analysis provides insight into several species that are presently neglected, suggesting that their restoration could contribute to an increase in biodiversity.