The Dunedin Botanic Garden will offer tours and sales at its Rhododendron Day tomorrow. Photographer GerardO’Brien offers a preview.
The Rhododendron Dell occupies 4ha in the southeastern corner of the garden, between Lovelock Ave and the Water of Leith. There are 2221 rhododendrons in the dell, 128 different species, 223 named hybrids and 518 unnamed hybrids. The dell’s display of rhododendrons is classified according to the system of Cullen and Chamberlain, species planted in subsection groups. Rhododendrons are mostly evergreen. They can be woody shrublets or grow to trees 30m tall. Dunedin’s climate is well suited to growing rhododendrons, and the dell’s variety of microclimates means many different types of rhododendrons thrive in its loess and basalt-derived soils.
