Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens celebrates its rich horticultural legacy with award-winning rhododendrons on display until early June.   

The famous rhododendrons of Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens are in full bloom and have recently won three top prizes at the 2023 RHS Main Camellia, Early Rhododendron and Spring Ornamental Plants Competitions held at RHS Wisley, Surrey, on April 1st and 2nd. The winning Rhododendrons were 'Muriel' (Class 35), 'Argipeplum' (Class 29), and 'Schlippenbachii' (first prize).   

The Grade I Listed gardens on the 240-acre Leonardslee estate were established by the Loder family, Victorian-era plant collectors. The estate is home to an exceptional collection of flora and fauna, featuring wallabies and deer roaming among seven interlaced lakes. Many of the plants are now very rare and threatened in their native habitats, says estate general manager Adam Streeter.   

The RHS Wisley competition was organised in conjunction with the RCM Group - RHS Rhododendron, Camellia & Magnolia Group, of which King Charles is a patron. The group has gifted rhododendrons, camellias, and magnolias to the King for a collection at Sandringham. Two plants closely associated with Leonardslee were included in the gift: 'Loderi King George', which received the RHS Award of Merit in 1968, and 'Loderi Sir Joseph Hooker'.   

During their time cultivating the gardens at Leonardslee, the Loder family regularly competed in horticultural contests and won numerous medals and awards for their efforts. The last time this happened was under Sir Giles Loder in the 1970s. This year marks the first time the current gardening team, including Elliot Chandler and Dan Ainscough, has entered a Rhododendron competition. The current estate owners, since 2017, the Streeter family, plan to enter the Camellia categories at Wisley next year, eyeing the opportunity to win the Leonardslee Bowl, donated to the society by Sir Giles Loder.   

The estate is home to hundreds of Rhododendron species, hybrids, and cultivars. A cataloguing and recording project is currently underway for all essential plants, including Rhododendrons, and a more accurate count will be available upon completion. 

The first prize awards at RHS Wisley were as follows:  

• Rhododendron ‘Muriel’, Class 35 – Any hybrid of which one parent is a species of subsect. Falconera or Grandia, one truss. 1st Prize. 

• Rhododendron Argipeplum, Class 29 - A Rhododendron species, one truss, shown by a first-time exhibitor or any exhibitor who has not won a prize in the last 5 years at an RHS Rhododendron competition. 1st Prize. 

• Rhododendron Schlippenbachii, any species Azalea, deciduous or evergreen, one spray, not exceeding 24” from top of vase. 1st Prize.  

Visitors to Leonardslee

The gardens are currently (April 2023) reaching full bloom for spring with a variety of colourful flowers, including Magnolias, Camellias and Rhododendrons. Leonardslee is home to a wide range of trees, including towering redwoods and ancient oaks, which provide ample shade and stunning scenery.  

Leonardslee has a large population of wild birds, including woodpeckers, finches, and robins. Additionally, there are several species of butterflies, including the beautiful common blue and the orange-tip. Visitors are advised to keep an eye out for the wallabies and roe deer, which can often be spotted grazing in the gardens.  

There is a café and gift shop, a plant nursery and a year-round programme of entertainment. The gardens are open daily, 9am - 5pm. Last entry 4:30pm.  

Head gardener Jamie Harris recommends the best spots for visitors to view the rhododendrons on the estate are the Loderi Garden, Cox's Walk, the Coronation Garden, the Pulham Rock Garden, and the Dell.   

"Leonardslee offers a perfect setting for growing rhododendrons, with an ericaceous loam and sandstone bedrock creating acidic soil conditions that are perfect for these plants, as well as the abundant camellias, magnolias, and conifers," explains Jamie Harris.   

In celebration of King Charles III's coronation, Leonardslee is restoring the Coronation Garden, first created for Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1952. It features the famed rhododendron Loderi King George, created by Sir Edmund Loder, along with over 30 other rhododendron grafts.   

The gardening team is also adding a new collection of Magnolia trees, while ongoing work has revealed several lost specimens, such as a Monkey Puzzle and a Eucalyptus tree.   

The story of Leonardslee's rhododendron legacy centres around discovering new plants and creating unique and essential hybrids, says Jamie Harris. Sir Edmund Loder played a crucial role in cultivating these hybrids, using parent plants Rhododendron Fortunei (discovered in 1855) and Rhododendron Griffithianum (discovered in 1850).   

National Collection status has been granted to the estate for its Loderi and Leonardslee-related hybrids. Managed by Plant Heritage, a leading garden plant conservation and research charity, this status helps preserve essential plant collections for future generations. Out of the 42 hybrids in the collection, 17 can only be found at Leonardslee, with some represented by just a single plant.   

For more information on Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens and to plan a visit, please visit www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk. Open daily from 9am to 5pm, Adults £14.50, Children £6.50, Family from £26.   

About Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens

Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens is a Grade I Listed garden estate known for its diverse collection of flora and fauna, including rare and threatened plants. The estate is dedicated to preserving its horticultural heritage and provides a stunning destination for visitors to explore and enjoy its vibrant displays.