My favourite

Well it wasn't a rhododendron yesterday so it's time for another today! This is probably my favourite rhododendron of all. Maybe.

It's one of the Maddenia subsection and at one time it would have simply been called Rhododendron cubitii. The taxonomists have been at work, however, and now it goes by the name of Rhododendron veitchianum Cubittii Group 'Ashcombe' ! This simply means that it's considered a selection of that species and the name 'Ashcombe' means that it's been propagated as a clone and named. It's beautifully frilly and delightfully fragrant too!

It's a native of Burma, Laos and Thailand which means that it's pretty tender and is unlikely to survive away from the west coast. It's more commonly grown in a conservatory, but of course the whole Argyll coast is a conservatory really! Unfortunately sometimes the door is left open!