The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is renowned for the size and scope of its Rhododendron collection. In April this year, RBGE horticulturists again showed their skills in the study and cultivation of this attractive genus by taking a top prize in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Rhododendron Competition.
RBGE staff exhibited a diverse selection of rhododendrons grown at Edinburgh, Benmore and Dawyck Botanic Gardens at the Borde Hill Camellia, Rhododendron and Magnolia Festival. They entered six plants in four competitive classes of the RHS Rhododendron Competition, which took place at the Festival.
The result was first prize, the McLaren Challenge Cup, for a stunning Rhododendron roxieanum specimen (right), grown at Dawyck. "We chose to exhibit this particular specimen because it's a mature plant, from material that could well have been collected in China by the legendary plant hunter George Forrest," says Dawyck Curator David Knott.
RBGE's other prize winners on the day were R. aff. magnificum from Benmore, which took fourth prize in class three, and R. adenogynum from Dawyck, recipient of third prize in class 11.