Leonardslee Shortlisted for the Plant Heritage Threatened Plant Award

Shortlisted for the Plant Heritage Threatened Plant Award 

Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens entered five rare Rhododendrons into the prestigious Plant Heritage Threatened Plant of the Year 2023 competition, and Rhododendron 'The Dowager' is now on the shortlist for the award. Visitors to the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in July can see all 12 of the shortlisted plants.  

Leonardslee features one of the most comprehensive and varied collections of rhododendrons in the UK. Across the Grade I Listed gardens on the 240-acre estate, visitors can see hundreds of rare and exotic plant and tree species, spanning diverse cultivars and hybrids, all carefully curated by head gardener Jamie Harris and his team. 

Rhododendron 'The Dowager' is a hybrid cross between Rh. ‘Muriel’ - a rare Leonardslee-raised hybrid of falconeri x grande, with currently only a single extant specimen - and Rh. arboreum. It was raised by the dowager Lady Loder, Sir Edmund Loder’s widow, who managed the Leonardslee estate from his death in 1920 to 1945 when her grandson Sir Giles Loder took over.  

It was named ‘The Dowager’ in honour of Lady Loder by Miss E. Godman of the South Lodge estate which is located close to Leonardslee. The two estates often shared plant material and the two families were good friends. Miss E. Godman introduced the plant in 1968 and it received the Award of Merit when exhibited it that year.  

At Leonardslee there is only a single extant plant of this hybrid and it is unknown if any plants exist elsewhere, although it is unlikely, says Jamie Harris. It is not available commercially through any nursery and has been evaluated by Plant Heritage as an endangered cultivar. At Leonardslee, a medium-sized tree has formed, with a silvery indumentum under the leaves and pink and white flowers appearing very early in the season, usually in March. 

‘The Dowager’ Rhododendron hybrids.

‘The Dowager’ forms part of the recently awarded National Collection status from Plant Heritage for Leonardslee’s Loderi and Leonardslee-related Rhododendron hybrids. Leonardslee recently sent material from this clone to the Duchy College in Cornwall to be micro-propagated so that the family-owned estate can ensure its continued survival. 

The National Plant Collection serves as a significant conservation initiative, safeguarding around 95,000 plants across 650 collections. By preserving garden-worthy specimens, this project supports gardeners, nurserymen, garden designers, researchers, and plant breeders in their pursuits, ensuring generations of flora enthusiasts can continue to appreciate these horticultural treasures. 

The five exceptional Rhododendrons Leonardslee presented to the Plant Heritage Threatened Plant of the Year 2023 competition include: 'Muriel', 'Selig', 'The Dowager', 'Glory of Leonardslee', and 'Prince Charming'.  

Visit and vote on the Plant Heritage website.  

Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens is open from 9am to 5pm, with the last entry at 4:30pm. Leonardslee Gardens. Brighton Road, Lower Beeding, Horsham, RH13 6PP