Rhododendron Collection
A snapshot of the many award winning rhododendrons in the garden, some of which are rare in cultivation and becoming rarer in the wild.
R. argyrophyllum
R. argyrophyllum subsp nankiingense ‘Chinese Silver’, subsection Argyrophylla
R. argyrophyllum is a beautiful large shrub with long leaves which are silvery on the undersides. It was introduced from China by Ernest Wilson in 1934. ‘Chinese Silver’ is a particularly good selection.
R. macabeanum
R. macabeanum, Subsection Grandia
A magnificent species rhododendron which makes a large shrub or small tree in woodland conditions. Its large green leaves set off the large blooms of pale yellow with a purple blotch in March and April. One of the forms here is a canary-yellow. This rhododendron was introduced from India by Frank Kingdom Ward, one of the great plant collectors, in about 1928.
R. kesangiae
R. kesangiae, Subsection Grandia
A magnificent recent introduction (1987) to this country from Bhutan.
A large tree or shrub , its large leaves have a silvery indumentum and the flowers vary from pale to a deep pink. It was named in honour of Queen Ashi Kesang of Bhutan.