Deciduous Azaleas

Lionel de Rothschild loved deciduous azaleas and carried out much breeding work to enhance colours and scent. He developed two ‘ranges’. The Exbury range are the most flamboyant. Lionel de Rothschild bought unnamed hybrids from Knaphill Nursery and continued their development at Exbury. His first notable successes being ‘Hotspur’ and ‘Balzac’ which won Awards of Merit in 1934.

The Solent Range was started by George Hyde a private grower in Dorset. He worked on plants from the Exbury range and improved their characteristics. Lionel was so impressed with his work that he bought the entire collection to display at Exbury. He named several varieties.