Plant of the month March 2018

Rhododendron smithii
Family: Ericaceae
Origin: Himalayas
Accession: 1985
Location:  Asia

This rhododendron specimen was collected by George Sherriff in one of his plant-collecting expeditions to the Himalayas, and planted in his garden at Ascreavie, Kirriemuir. After the deaths of Major and Mrs. Sherriff (in 1967 and 1978), the property was sold on, and in 1983 many of the rare rhododendrons were donated to the Dundee Botanic Garden. This is an early-flowering, long-lasting scarlet rhododendron, similar to R. barbatum, but with indumentum on the leaf undersides.

Thanks to Maggie Gowland for photographs.