No true blue rhododendrons

The Rhododendron, particularly the dusky pink R.ponticum, has a dreadful reputation for being invasive and people get very hot under the collar about the drastic effect it has on native Irish flora.

In fact, the species has a strong claim to Irish nationality. According to garden historians Keith Lams and Patrick Bowe, it once grew wild here during an interglacial period.

It died out during an ice age and wasn’t seen until its ...