Plant in hospital grows so huge it has to be moved to zoo

By Charlie Fenton

A giant plant facing the chop after growing for 50 years in a hospital stairwell has been rehomed in a zoo.

The monstera, which stood at over 10 feet tall, is named Audrey after the blood-sucking plant in the iconic 80s film Little Shop of Horrors.

The huge cheese plant had resided in the stairwell at Leeds General Infirmary’s medical school since the 1970s but she faced an uncertain future due to the school's offices undergoing a relocation.

Luckily for Audrey she has now found a perfect new home at Tropical World, Roundhay, Leeds, Yorks, after workers agreed to safely transport her over five miles and be replanted in the Rainforest Canopy area.

Jo Langton, visitor attraction general manager at Tropical World, said: “She’s going to need a lot of TLC and it’s still early days.

"Fortunately we do have an established cheese plant here already which grows extremely well so we all have our fingers crossed that she’ll adapt to her new surroundings.

“The logistics of moving Audrey were certainly a massive challenge, but having heard her story and seen her first hand, we were determined to do everything we could to rescue her and give her a new place to call home.

More from this section

Bulgaria ex-president wins parliamentary majority

Downing Street denies exerting pressure to OK Mandelson appointment

Counting a billion people: Inside India's mega census drive

“We’re happy to share that she’s still around in Leeds and would love visitors to come along and see her settling in.”

The medical school initially contacted the team at Tropical World to see if they would be able to take the plant.

Experts from the zoo were quickly dispatched to assess if she could be moved and become the latest addition to the attraction’s vast collection of plants from across the world.

Audrey’s impressive size meant that she needed a significant trim before she could be transported - and she has been more than halved in size to around four feet tall.

And after some delicate care and attention, staff were eventually able to find the ideal spot for the precious plant to put down some new roots.

Native to Central and South America, monstera can grow up to a height of 66 feet in the wild, climbing trees by using a network of aerial roots which hook over branches.

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: “It’s wonderful that we’ve been able to give Audrey a new home so her story can continue and we can preserve a little bit of Leeds history for visitors so enjoy too.

“It’s thanks to the expertise and dedication of the team at Tropical World that so many rare and fascinating species can be conserved and we can learn more about nature, biodiversity, and the animal kingdom here in Leeds.”

NHS staff have also asked if they can put a plaque in place once she is established and growing.