Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens in Sussex is celebrating a triumphant return to horticultural competitions after winning three top prizes at the 2023 RHS Main Camellia, Early Rhododendron and Spring Ornamental Plants Competition held at RHS Wisley on April 1st and 2nd. The event was run in conjunction with the RCM Group – Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group, of which King Charles is a patron. 

The Grade I Listed gardens on the 240-acre estate were created by the Loder family, the great Victorian plant collectors, in the early 1800s. The gardens are renowned for their stunning natural beauty and diverse collection of flora and fauna, including wallabies and deer, around seven interlaced lakes. 

The Loder family at Leonardslee used to enter all of the horticultural competitions every year, winning numerous medals and awards. The last time this happened was under Sir Giles Loder in the 1970s. Everyone from the RHS and RCM was thrilled to see Leonardslee back competing again. 

The winning plants and 1st prize awards at RHS Wisley were as follows: 

• Rhododendron ‘Muriel’, Class 35 – Any hybrid of which one parent is a species of subsect. Falconera or Grandia, one truss. 1st Prize. 

• Rhododendron Argipeplum, Class 29 - A Rhododendron species, one truss, shown by a first-time exhibitor or any exhibitor who has not won a prize in the last 5 years at an RHS Rhododendron competition. 1st Prize. 

• Rhododendron Schlippenbachii, any species Azalea, deciduous or evergreen, one spray, not exceeding 24” from top of vase. 1st Prize. 

Leonardslee head gardener Jamie Harris, with Elliot Chandler and Dan Ainscough from the garden team, selected the plants on March 30th before storing them overnight and packing everything up for transportation to Wisley the following day.

Jamie says: “It was a steep learning curve for the team, who learnt a lot from people who have been exhibiting for decades. For example, they cut vertical slits into the stems to help them absorb water better and not wilt. Some add either sugar or bleach to the vases to help maintain their appearance, which is apparently the done thing!” 

This was the first time the current gardening team entered a Rhododendron competition. They plan to enter the Camellia categories next time as there is an opportunity to win the Leonardslee Bowl, which was donated to the society by Sir Giles Loder.