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Rhododendrons in Ireland
From the UK’s leading Rhododendron Nursery: www.glendoick.com
Despite the fact that most rhododendrons come from the China-Himalayan region and most azaleas from Japan and North America, both are extremely successful in Ireland, and many of the best-known gardens feature them prominently. Starting with ‘Nobleanum’ before Christmas, building up to a crescendo in May, there can still be rhododendrons in flower as late as August with ‘Polar Bear’ and R. auriculatum. The peak of species flowering is in March-April with hybrids in May and azaleas in early June.
While most rhododendrons grow well, two groups of rhododendrons are outstandingly successful in Ireland, growing better here than anywhere save the west coast of Scotland. These two groups are the tender, mostly scented Maddenia species such as R. lindleyi and R. maddenii and the large-leaved giant species of SS Falconera and Grandia such as R. sinogrande and R. macabeanum.
Glendoick has close connections with many Irish gardens. Euan Cox and his son Peter Cox started the rhododendron nursery at Glendoick in Scotland in 1953. In 1963, Peter married Patricia Sherrard from Maryborough House, Douglas outside Cork. Patricia had been in Scotland buying rhododendrons to plant at Maryborough. Patricia’s uncle G.O. Sherrard was Ireland’s first Professor of Horticulture (1938)and was well known for his horticultural broadcasts on Irish radio as well as his breeding of Brussels sprouts and other plants. Patricia has lived at Glendoick in Scotland since 1963 but her brothers still live around Cork. Glendoick Gardens was a small retail mail-order business until 1973 when Glendoick Garden Centre was opened under the direction of Patricia Cox. Most of Ireland’s significant rhododendron collections have been supplied by Glendoick’s mail order nursery. The Cox family are world authorities on Rhododendrons and have written a large number of books on the subject. The Coxes are also well-known for their plant-hunting expeditions and hybridising of new rhododendron and azalea varieties.
Peter & Patricia Cox have advised on many Irish gardens including Fota, Mt Congreve,
The UK’s leading Rhododendron Nursery: www.glendoick.com
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