Celebrate
One of Natures Beauties with the

Scottish Rhododendron Society

Who We Are

The Scottish Rhododendron Society is a chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. We have over 250 members most living in the UK, but some in other European countries, and others are as far afield as Iceland, the USA and Australia.

Our purpose

Our purpose is to encourage enjoyment of the genus Rhododendron, by interesting you in the culture of rhododendrons and azaleas. These shrubs love an acid soil, and damp but well-drained ground.

If you love gardening, and especially if you are interested in knowing more about growing and cultivating this fascinating genus, then you might like to join us. To learn more please go to advantages of membership page.

The Fascination of Rhododendrons

Rhododendrons vary from tiny creeping alpine shrublets with leaves half an inch long, to trees a hundred feet tall and leaves three feet long. Flower colour varies from white, through red, orange, yellow, blue, pink, to violet.

People often think of rhododendrons as medium
sized shrubs, with pink or purple flowers. Variation of size and flower colour is wide with some forms showing different colours in the one flower. Scented varieties also occur.

Foliage is possibly more important. Flowers last about a month, but foliage lasts all year. Leaves vary in shades from glaucous blue to silver, taking in every shade of green. Some new growths can be coppery red. Lift up a leaf for the biggest surprise. Some rhododendrons have a cinnamon-brown underside to the leaves. This “indumentum” is often woolly and very handsome.

Where Rhododendrons are Found

Most rhododendron species originate in the Himalaya, and south-east Asia. Dwarf alpine species coat the mountain sides like heather on the Scottish hills. Lower down the rhododendrons are shrubby, and lower still are the tree-like species.

In cultivation, rhododendrons can start to flower in January.

In a mild winter there can be several varieties flowering before March, when the main event starts. Then you are spoiled by the huge variety that continue to flower through to May.

Some rhododendrons flower in June, July, and August. A second flush of flowers in the autumn is not uncommon, so by careful choice of plants, a long season of colour is possible. Whether you own a small urban garden or a large estate, there are rhododendrons to suit your situation.

(Photos by John Roy ABOVE - Rhododendron thomsonii , BELOW Rododendron bhutanense in the wild)

For MEMBERSHIP enquiries e-mail us at membership@scottishrhodos.co.uk

For GENERAL enquiries e-mail us at enquiries@scottishrhodos.co.uk