The garden is heading quickly into peak rhododendron time which means a great time to visit especially with all the scented species powered up after the welcome rain which we have enjoyed over the past few days. One of the very best which is flowering at the moment is Rhodo griffithianum known as Rhodo aucklandii when first grown in the UK. The form grown at Tregrehan is exceptional and has stood the test of time being around 140 years old. It was referenced as being a fine rhododendron by JC Williams of Caerhays in the article below; written in The Rhododendron Society notes 1922.
Jovey Carlyon would have planted this grafted specimen around 1885-1890. I have included an image of the trunks with the flaky barked graft line on the left still clearly visible but becoming heavily compromised by the rootstock which has grown away strongly. Rather than cut the stock completely off in one hit I am steadily reducing its size so that the griffithianum section is able to adjust to the new situation. It has divided into 2 stems, one of which has reached for the light and is over 12 metres tall, hard to photo well... The other has started to drop close enough to the ground where we plan on layering some branches as soon as possible. The size and colour of the flowering truss is exceptional, and when combined with the huge disc shaped calyx no wonder JCW rated this selection so highly.
