England's largest rhododendron has burst into a spectacular bloom after surviving an incredibly dry summer, now stretching to the length of ten double-decker buses. This record-breaking bush, affectionately dubbed 'Shrubzilla', is back in all its glory thanks to a warm and wet winter this spring, which revived it from a dehydrated state last summer.
A Botanical Marvel in West Sussex
The red and pink flowers of this enormous plant have bloomed particularly early this year, showcasing a 'thick growth' all around. Located in the grounds of South Lodge Hotel in Horsham, West Sussex, the rhododendron has reached impressive dimensions: over 38 metres in length, 24 metres in width, and 10 metres in height. Typically, rhododendrons grow no more than six feet high, making this specimen a true anomaly.
Historical Roots and Care
Planted around 120 years ago by Victorian explorer Frederick Du Cane Godman, this huge arboreum smithii, also known as the Old Cornish rhododendron species, has been meticulously maintained by head gardener Paul Collins for the past 13 years. Mr Collins, a 55-year-old from Horsham, West Sussex, tends to the garden with five other gardeners, noting that the bush is 'really quite happy at the moment'.
Mr Collins explained: 'It has probably put on a thick growth all the way round. Rhododendrons love moisture, so a warm, wet winter has been good for it. It has done better than last year flower-wise. Last year we had frost quite late on, but this year has been really warm and wet, which is basically very good for the rhododendron.'
Surviving Adversity and Drawing Admiration
Despite not blooming as profusely as in 2024, the bush remains enormous and resilient. Mr Collins added, 'The dry summer it didn't like. It was looking quite dehydrated.' Guests and visitors to the hotel often admire the bush, with some even flying over from Holland specifically to see it in bloom.
Explorer Frederick Du Cane Godman, a Cambridge scholar, planted the bush after his family purchased the hotel and its grounds in 1883. Fascinated by horticulture, he travelled the world, compiling a natural history classification of more than 50,000 species and gathering a large collection of rare orchids, alpine plants, and magnolias with his second wife, Dame Alice.
