Everybody loves Rhododendron tuba – it’s a vireya which is one of the tropical species. This wonderful plant is frost tender but flowers well when in the right location or under a tree canopy away from icy conditions. With an upright growth habit and dark green leathery leaves, it flowers at least twice a year and has a lovely subtle fragrance. It’s extremely popular with garden visitors to Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden when it’s in flower and the locals love asking for it as well, as it is such a popular variety to purchase and take home for enjoying in your own garden.
To see this rhododendron mass planted and in flower a visit to Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden is a must. The garden as a whole is a draw card in itself, because it is not just a garden full of “rhodos”. There is so much more on offer. New plantings and garden feature additions are always being worked on – for example the gorgeous sandstone moon gate. Also guaranteed is sighting a platypus swimming in one or more of the lakes every day of the week!
You will find the garden situated on Tasmania’s north-west coast, 8kms from the town of Burnie. The garden covers eleven hectares with extensive landscaping including lakes, waterfalls, bridges, gazebos and walking tracks.
In 1977, members of the newly formed Rhododendron Society, in northwest Tasmania, started looking for a block of land suitable to start a new garden. The objective? To display species and hybrid rhododendrons in a woodland setting and to create a gene pool of available material for scientific research and hybridizing.
A site was found, and in 1981 the Australian Rhododendron Society National Council members were invited to plant the very first rhododendron. It was called ‘Golden Dream’ – for that is just what it was; a dream the garden would become a reality. The garden now boasts over 22,000 plants with the most incredible colour range to fascinate and interest all gardeners.
In addition to the amazing array of rhododendrons, there are glorious azaleas, camellias, wonderful ornamental trees such as paulownias, and to top this off – incredible cherry blossoms. Emu Valley is sited on an amphitheater.
The soil is rich and volcanic. The walls slope into a large, stepped basin, fed by natural springs which form a series of lakes. Part of the interest of this garden is that plants are displayed in ‘countries’ from which the wild rhododendrons originate with authentically constructed rooms and structures to suit. The rhododendrons are at their peak from September to November, however, this truly stunning garden provides year-round interest.
Horticultural manager, Neet Lowry tells us, Kahoona for Acid Loving plants is a key part of our fertilising program throughout the gardens. We apply following a Year-Round Feeding Program, along with Seamungus for new plantings and during the down time for these plants. As we’ve been achieving great results using biological products, we’re also looking forward to trialling POPUL8 in a few areas, where the conditions are more tricky for our plants.
Autumn is also a delight with the full colour spectrum of ornamental deciduous trees and even in winter, there is plenty of native fauna to spot – as well as platypus in the lakes, there are also echidnas, reptiles and bird life and native flora including glorious tree and fern species.
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