Leonardslee Wins People's Choice Award at RHS Hampton Court for Rare Rhododendron

Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens has won the People's Choice award in the Plant Heritage Threatened Plant of the Year 2024 competition for its rare Rhododendron 'Leonardslee Primrose'. The prestigious accolade was awarded based on votes cast online and by visitors to the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

The winning plant, an endangered hybrid raised by Sir Edmund Loder, flowers in March and April. It boasts small, bell-shaped blooms of delicate translucent primrose-yellow with maroon spots inside. This unique rhododendron, a cross between Rh. campylocarpum and a white-flowered form of Rh. arboreum, is rarely found in cultivation outside Leonardslee. 

This is the second consecutive year for winning the award; in 2023 it was with Rhododendron 'The Dowager', a hybrid cross between R. ‘Muriel’ - a rare Leonardslee-raised hybrid of falconeri x grande, with currently only a single known specimen anywhere - and R. arboreum. 

Named in honour of Lady Loder, 'The Dowager' received the RHS Award of Merit when first exhibited in 1968. Today, only one specimen remains at Leonardslee. The medium-sized tree bears distinctive silvery undersides and pink-and-white blooms that flower early each March. 

Jamie Harris, head gardener at Leonardslee, said: "These two awards underscore our commitment to plant conservation. At Leonardslee, we're dedicated to preserving rare species for future generations of gardeners to enjoy and study." 

Both award-winners are part of the National Plant Collection. Leonardslee has sent material from all of its Rhododendrons listed in the collection to Duchy College in Cornwall to be micro-propagated and preserved. This ensures the future of cultivars that are not commercially available and that Plant Heritage has designated as endangered. The National Plant Collection and Threatened Plant of the Year initiative help safeguard over 95,000 rare specimens for gardeners, nurseries, designers and researchers. 

The 240-acre Grade I listed estate, established by the great Victorian plant collector Sir Edmund Loder, houses one of the UK's most extensive rhododendron collections. Set in a steep-sided valley, Leonardslee offers visitors a spectacular display of seven interlaced lakes with surrounding woodlands and parkland.

Beyond its award-winning rhododendrons, the estate boasts year-round floral displays, including azaleas, camellias, magnolias, daffodils, and bluebells. The gardens feature several rare 'champion' trees, a Pulham rock garden from 1890, a deer park, and a colony of wallabies.

Leonardslee provides a protected ecosystem for rare wildlife, including Emperor Dragonflies, White Admiral butterflies, and various bird species. An outdoor sculpture exhibition adds to the magical garden experience, making it an ideal day out for gardeners and nature enthusiasts alike. 

The Evolution of Leonardslee and its Rhododendrons 

The history of Leonardslee Estate is a tale of family ownership, gardening, and a passion for plant hunting. Originally, the property was part of the royal family's holdings and was used as a hunting ground. Passed down through various kings and queens, Charles II gifted the estate to Sir Edward Greaves, his physician.  

By the late 1600s, Leonardslee was in private hands, transitioning through several families until the Loders eventually acquired it, marking the beginning of the estate's renowned rhododendron legacy.  

People wonder if the Loder family, known for their interest in plant hunting and bringing new species from abroad, knew they were coming to a perfect place for cultivating rhododendrons. As a local family, they were well aware of the land and soil conditions.  

Before the Loders, the Beauclerk family had already started planting rhododendrons. The oldest rhododendron in the garden, a ‘Cornish Arboreum’, was planted in the Dell area, previously known as the American Garden, and is over 200 years old. 

When Sir Edmund Loder purchased Leonardslee in 1889, his father, Sir Robert Loder, already owned the High Beeches estate. Not long after, Sir Edmund's brother acquired Wakehurst Place. These estates shared many similarities, but Leonardslee's soil and aspect made it doubly perfect for cultivating rhododendrons.  

Rhododendrons can be found on most continents, but the most significant species come from China and the Himalayas. Plant hunters of the early 1900s ventured out to collect plant materials, discovering hardy rhododendrons on mountainsides. These plants were then introduced to gardens like Leonardslee, enhancing the estate's reputation.

Visitors can see Rhododendron 'Leonardslee Primrose' and other horticultural treasures at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, open daily from 9am to 5pm, with last entry at 4:30pm. For more information, visit www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk.

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Editors notes

Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens is a family-owned vineyard estate, near Horsham in West Sussex, which features ‘the finest woodland gardens in England’, Grade I Listed, as well as a Michelin Star restaurant and luxury vineyard accommodation.

The 240-acre estate was established by Sir Edmund Loder, the great Victorian plant collector, and now includes a Sussex Wine vineyard, with the first release of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier sparkling wine in 2024.

The estate features outstanding displays all year round. In the spring this includes rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, magnolias and bluebells. The collection is exceptional in its diversity and maturity, with several rare ‘champion’ trees, threatened in their natural habitat.

The gardens offer a protected ecosystem for rare wildlife such as Emperor Dragonflies and Damselflies, White Admiral and Purple Hairstreak butterflies and migratory and native birds - Kites, Great Tits, Tree Creepers, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers and Nightingales.

The estate reopened in April 2019, following acquisition and two years’ intensive work by entrepreneur Penny Streeter OBE to restore the woodland gardens after eight years of closure and neglect under previous ownership. It was the largest garden restoration project in the United Kingdom since Heligan 30 years before.

Since further restoration work in 2021, visitors can also stay in the luxury vineyard hotel after dining at Restaurant Interlude in Leonardslee House, the Grade II Listed Italianate mansion house, to experience the Michelin Star multi-course tasting menu created by chef Jean Delport.

The estate offers a great family day out and is one of the top places to visit in West Sussex. Visitors can view a magical world in miniature at the Beyond the Doll's House exhibition, which depicts the Edwardian estate and neighbouring villages at 1:12 scale. There is also an exciting new 2,500 sq m play park designed to mix recreational play with the natural attractions of the Grade I Listed woodland gardens, and a spectacular winter festival annually when the gardens are illuminated, attracting many thousands of visitors.

For great days out, there is an extensive programme of entertainment that includes winter garden illuminations and light trails, wine and beer festivals, photo and art exhibitions, live music events, cooking and gardening demonstrations, arts and crafts fairs, modelling and toy shows, and children’s events and adventure trails.

Leonardslee Family Vineyards in numbers

· Acquired 2017 · Total Estate 750 acres · 38 Acres of vineyard, 73,000 vines

· 2017 First vines planted · 170 Tonnes of grapes, 2023 harvest · 100,000 bottles annually produced · Sparkling wine cultivars 60% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier · 2024 First release of wine