Glendoick award winners at Chelsea 2025

Glendoick have returned triumphant from showing their rhododendrons and azaleas at Chelsea 2025 as part of the Plant Heritage displays in the Floral Marquee. Their displays won a Silver Gilt medal, the second top classification after gold, and an exceptional result for a first time exhibitor, according to the judging panel who have asked Glendoick to come back in future with a larger display.

Glendoick MD Kenneth Cox says:

‘This is the first time we have done Chelsea. We were planning to be there in 2020 but Covid saw the show cancelled. The hot sunny weather in the lead up meant a stressful few weeks trying to hold plants back for the show. We even had to use a restaurant chiller to cold store the plants. Ken & Jane Cox drove down to the show and set up the display on the Sunday. The judging took place on Monday, and when we arrived at the show on opening day on Tuesday morning we were absolutely delighted to discover our plaque for a silver gilt medal, which is the second highest award.’

Glendoick Gardens was established in 1953 by Euan and Peter Cox as a specialist rhododendron nursery with a garden centre alongside. 3rd generation Kenneth Cox joined the business in the 1980s, his wife Jane joined in the 1990s.

Glendoick Gardens breeding program for rhododendrons and azaleas began in the 1950s and continues to the present day. Kenneth Cox and his late father Peter are the only commercial breeders of rhododendrons in the UK. Over 100 varieties have been introduced over the years.

Ken & Jane Cox with their Chelsea Medal

On display at Chelsea were

• The Mammals series of evergreen azaleas: Wombat, Lemus, Squirrel and Panda, and the ‘Glendoick’ range of  evergreen azaleas bred at Glendoick. Glendoick Seashells, Glendoick Ruffles, Glendoick Igloo etc
• Rhododendrons bred for coloured foliage, including Everred [‘85/1C’] Wine and Roses [‘pinkros’] and Wonderred [2008/7D’], yellow/variegated foliage  ‘Red & Gold’, ‘All Gold’, narrow leaves ‘Graziella’, ‘Filigran’ and with silver foliage  ‘Viking Silver’  
• Large leaved species rhododendrons with giant foliage. R sinogrande, R kesangiae and R sinofalconeri.
• The Scottish Mountain series of deciduous azaleas: ‘Ben Cruachan’, ‘Ben Macdui’ and ‘Ben Lawers’ , bred by Kenneth and Peter Cox
• Most of the plants exhibited have never been to Chelsea before

 
Kenneth Cox says: 
‘The displays were a tribute to my father Peter Cox who died in April 2025. His legacy lives on in the plants he collected and the new hybrids he bred.’ The Glendoick team, who have been looking after everything while we have been away, are delighted and share in the pride of doing so well. Will we be back? Not next year.. It will take some time to recover.. but I’d like to go back again in future.

 

Ends

 

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Glendoick Water Features... huge range in stock now

Glendoick's New all weather canopy in the plant area.

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NEW IN STOCK IN OUR PLANT AREA for MAY

• Bedding Plants coming in each week. For inland gardens bedding needs to be protected from frost and cold winds till late May.
• New season Roses
• Alpines... we have a huge range in stock now.
• Vegetable plants, herbs all in stock now. 
• Rhododendrons and azaleas in flower.
• Early Summer Clematis in stock now.. coming into flower
• Lavender English and French... flower buds bursting...
• A huge range of perennials
• Scotland's largest range of trees.

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NEW IN STOCK

IN THE GLENDOICK SHOP

• Weave furniture with weather-proof cushions

• Bird food for the Spring

• Lawn care

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NEW in the FOODHALL

• Bellhaven Smokehouse

• Smoked salmon, beetroot cured smoked salmon, smoked salmon trimmings

• Hot smoked salmon and maple & chilli hot smoked salmon

• Smoked Mackerel and smoked mackerel with Lemon & pepper

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Giraffe Kitchen ready meals from Perth

• As well as creating tasty food and drinks, we provide valuable work experience and training to those facing barriers to mainstream opportunities.  
• We strongly believe in inclusion for all.
• Giraffe is a professional but supportive environment where we work with individuals facing barriers such as autism, learning disabilities and mental ill health.
• Our trainees come to us from all over Perth and Kinross (and beyond!) to develop skills, gain experience and move towards independence.   
• By using our services- you are helping them too!

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NEW in FASHION & GIFT

• JOULES New Summer Range

 

 

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Glendoick's Owners. Peter & Kenneth Cox have written over 20 books on rhododendrons, plant hunting, Scottish gardens and gardening. 4 of Peter & Ken's books, Scotland for Gardeners, Seeds of Adventure and Fruit and Vegetables for Scotland  were UK Garden books of the year. Woodland Gardening was European Gardening Book of the Year 2014

Books are available at Glendoick Garden Centre and Mail Order

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Books on Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Woodland Gardening, Plant Hunting

Woodland Gardening Glendoick Publications 2018 Winner European Gardening Book of the Year 2018-19

Glendoick, A Guide, Glendoick Publishing

Rhododendrons and Azaleas: A Colour Guide, Crowood Press 2005.

 

Now out of Print:

Riddle of the Tsangpo Gorges by Frank Kingdon Ward. New Edition, ed. Kenneth Cox, Antique Collector’s Club 2001, 2007  NOW OUT OF PRINT

Seeds of Adventure Peter Cox, Peter Hutchison, Antique Collectors Club 2008   NOW OUT OF PRINT

For more details on all the Cox Books click here

 

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Kenneth Cox Best Selling Scotland Books

For more details on all the Cox Books click here

Garden Plants for Scotland,   Frances Lincoln 2008 (Kenneth Cox with Raoul Curtis Machin)

Scotland for Gardeners  Birlinn 2009  2nd Edition 2014  Winner Inspirational Garden Book of the Year 2009. Garden Media Guild

Fruit and Vegetables for Scotland   with Caroline Beaton,  Birlinn 2012  Winner Garden Reference of the Year 2012

Gardening Made Simple      Glendoick Publishing 2021  Kenneth Cox

For more details on all the Cox Books click here

To Order Kenneth Cox Books Click here