Inverewe Garden
Poolewe, Achnasheen, Ross-shire
Inverewe has a four-star grading from the national tourism organisation and is well-famed for its range of rhododendrons, with flowers to be found somewhere in the garden every month of the year. Bark, form, and leaves also have their merit, but for many, the scent is a special appeal.
Rhodododendron lindleyi, from the maddenii subsection, is a favourite. The glorious large, trumpet-shaped flowers of the purest white emit a strong, sweet-spicy fragrance that is intoxicating. It has a wide distribution in its native habitats of Nepal, SE Tibet and Manipur, where it is usually an epiphytic shrub, up to five-metres (16 feet) tall. In cultivation, it is generally shorter, growing to around six to eight feet in dappled shade. At Inverewe it can be found in the sheltered environs of the woodland garden; Penders Walk hosts a good example.
Another rhododendron prized for its fragrance is Rhododendron ‘Loderi King George’. The scented, white, lily-like flowers open in tall trusses from bright pink buds, its blooms filling the garden in May with its sweet scent, with several to be seen behind the Turkey Oak in Bambooselem. ‘King George’ is reckoned to be the best of the ‘Loderi’ group of rhododendron.
Lastly, the honeysuckle-scented Rhododendron luteum is the most common deciduous azalea cultivated in Europe and is naturalised in Britain. It can be detected throughout the garden and creates a lasting impression with visitors. It makes an excellent garden plant because of its long flowering season and ease of cultivation. The sweetly-scented, soft golden-yellow flowers open in late spring, before, or at the same time as the leaves. In autumn, the leaves change to a glowing copper and red.
Website: nts.org.uk/inverewe
Telephone: 01445 781229
Opening times: 09.30–17.00 until 31 May, then 09.30–18.00 1 Jun–31 Aug. See website for autumn hours, house, café and shop opening hours
Admission costs:
Adult- £12.50, family- £30.00, single adult family - £23.00, concession - £11.50
Garden of the Week is in association with Discover Scottish Gardens. For more information, advice and day-out ideas, visit discoverscottishgardens.org
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