Kew Gardens is the largest living plant collection at a single site.

The record, announced by the Guinness World Records, was set by Kew Gardens, which is home to over 16,900 different plant species.

“We are absolutely thrilled to hold the record for the largest living plant collection,” said Richard Barley, director of horticulture at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.

“It re-enforces the importance of botanic gardens around the world, as not only beautiful places to enjoy, but as essential hubs of inspiration and education.”

The Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) at Kew was founded in 1759 and holds multiple world records.

Adam Millward, a managing editor of Guinness World Records, said: “I’ve had the dubious honour of smelling the pungent Titan Arum up close, contended with the steam and sprinklers to measure a prodigious pitcher trap for a GWR certificate.

“It’s fantastic to be able to celebrate the entire collection – surely one of the jewels of the botanical world – in the GWR 2022 book.”