Meet Zsolt Fodor | Horticulturist, Kilchoan Melfort Trust

We are delighted to introduce Zsolt Fodor, a horticulturist whose journey spans rural Hungary, the gardens of Scotland, and a lifelong fascination with the natural world. What began as childhood hikes through limestone quarries grew into a deep appreciation for resilient plants, landscapes, and the stories they hold. After an early academic path in history, a move to Scotland opened the door to horticulture—and through training at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Zsolt discovered a calling that blends practicality, creativity, and science. Today, his work with the Kilchoan Melfort Trust reflects a passion for conservation, regenerative gardening, and a belief that even the toughest environments can inspire wonder.

When did you know you wanted a career in Horticulture?
I was always interested in the outdoors while growing up in rural Hungary, where I also enjoyed hiking. Naturally, I came across many elements of nature, including plants and the landscape they were set in. I originally studied history at the university, but I wanted to do something more practical, which led me to gardening when I moved to Scotland. 
I started learning horticulture through the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, which provided me with the tools to understand how to care for plants, the challenges they face today, and why they are important to us. Horticulture gave me a perfect opportunity to be practical, creative, and mindful about nature. It also inspired me to study environmental science, enabling me to better understand the intricate connections between biotic and abiotic elements.

My current work for Kilchoan Melfort Trust inspires me every day to be a better horticulturist and focus on plant conservation. I am delighted to oversee a wide range of plants, especially those declining in their native habitats, and contribute to conservation by creating a garden that is resilient to future challenges and regenerative in nature.

What is the plant or horticulture event that started it all for you?
My favourite plants are alpines or generally low-growing, prostrate plants. I grew up not far from an abandoned limestone quarry, and I was impressed by the plants pioneering the barren landscape, including Sempervivum species. These areas also introduced me to national parks and protected areas, as well as their important role in plant conservation.

What IrisBG report do you find most useful?
I like to use the Maps function, especially the Map03 report. We recently had researchers who were  interested in our Fitzroya cupressoides collection, and the Map03 report enabled me to provide a clear map of their location among other collection items. It comes in handy for anyone who doesn't know the garden, but it is also helpful for the staff to locate a plant. The map label option adds another informative layer on top of a great visual tool.
 

Do you have a mentor in the horticulture field?
I have met many interesting people during my horticultural career, including my former and present colleagues who inspire me with their good attitude and hard-working ethic. I used to work with Luke Senior, who is now the curator for Benmore Botanic Garden in Scotland. I had the pleasure of learning grafting and other gardening practices from Tony Davies and plant ID tips from Janet Prescott through the educational enterprise, BEST in Horticulture. I have the opportunity to be in contact with people who are experts in their field, including the staff of the native plant recovery project at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
 

What have you found as the most handy IrisBG function to use?
I have spent a lot of time recently developing the Garden Explorer module for Kilchoan Gardens, and my favourite function is the Details tab in the Taxa and nomenclature section. The description and occurrence sections give a good opportunity to introduce a plant that can be presented to the public. I find it an excellent informational and educational tool for promoting the collection and introducing species that are slightly unusual or have high conservation value.

Is there a particular tree, or plant, or horticulture-related event that you have learned a valuable lesson from or about?
I like all plants for their unique niche in an ecosystem. Still, my real heroes are the plants growing in unforgiving and harsh environments, the stress tolerators, as they would be classified in Philip Grime's plant strategy theory.

There is much to learn in science from plants that can survive bleak conditions and can represent life where there is little else. A good example is the rare Scottish alpine, Diapensia lapponica, growing in a single location,  exposed to the elements. I can also name the iconic South American monkey puzzle (Araucaria araucana), which can grow on a free-draining, poor substrate at the foothills of volcanoes in Chile, where other plants would suffer.

Do you have a book, podcast, or film that you would like to recommend?
I find reference books helpful even in the digital age, and the 5-volume The European Garden Flora is a perfect example of marrying ornamental plants and scientific research. I also like books with botanical illustrations, and the newly published Endemic Plants of Mediterranean Chile is my favourite (written by Martin Gardner, Josefina Hepp Castillo, Sabina G. Knees and Nicolás Lavandero López). I welcome any literature about organic, regenerative or resilient gardening, such as The Ecological Gardener by Matt Rees-Warren.
 

What is one thing that most people wouldn't guess about you?
I enjoy collecting rocks, which might be the ultimate contrast to caring for living things. However, there is a connection between stones and plants: the type of bedrock ultimately influences the characteristics of the overlying soil, which affects plants. I live in Scotland, which has a rich geological history. Everywhere I go, I like to look up the geology and bring a little sample back (following the ethics of the geological code).