Spring has been officially declared in Cornwall now that seven champion Magnolia campbellii trees in leading gardens across the county are in full bloom.

At least fifty blooms have been counted on the magnolia trees across the seven gardens which include Caerhays Castle Gardens, Trebah Garden, Tregothnan, Trewidden, Trewithen, Trengwainton and The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Cornwall is the only place to see flowering magnolia trees in the UK at this time of year, signaling the true arrival of spring. The Nare, Cornwall’s highest rated hotel, has partnered with The Great Gardens of Cornwall to capture this spectacle.

The rest of Britain is spotting signs of spring with crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils popping up across the rest of the country, but it's the Magnolia campbellii flowering in Cornwall that really signals the true start of spring.


Toby Ashworth, proprietor of The Nare Hotel and bespoke garden tour specialist, who has championed raising awareness of Cornwall’s Spring Story, said:

“Thanks to the Gulf stream, Cornwall has an early start to spring; the county is the best place, and is considered the only place, to see the flowering magnolia trees in the UK at this time of year. It’s very exciting for everyone involved with the Great Gardens of Cornwall to officially countdown to spring and we’re very proud be leading the way across the country with this blooming spectacle.”

Lucinda Rimmington, Marketing Manager of Caerhays Estate – home to a National Magnolia Collection and the location of the oldest champion magnolia tree, says of the Magnolia Campbellii survey:

“Spring is such a wonderful time of year and for all the Great Gardens of Cornwall to come together when the magnolias are in bloom, it’s a wonderful way to mark the arrival of spring in Cornwall as well as showcasing the beautiful gardens the country has to offer to the rest of the country and beyond.”

The Royal Horticultural Society has also joined the official countdown to chart the arrival of this year’s spring through the launch of a national survey. In partnership with The Nare Hotel and the Great Gardens of Cornwall, the RHS is asking gardeners from across the country to use the survey to capture when their own Magnolia campbellii trees bloom into flower. The results will be assessed by the RHS’ science team. The RHS survey can be completed at: rhs.org.uk/magnoliasurvey2015.

About The Great Gardens of Cornwall?

Cornwall is home to a national collection of Magnolia campbellii trees at Caerhays Castle Estate, which is also famed for its champion Magnolia campbellii tree.  Standing over 80 feet tall, with the largest girth on record, the 100 year old Magnolia campbellii in the grounds of Caerhays Castle normally bursts into a canopy of pink petals between 10th and 20th March each year. The Great Gardens of Cornwall comprises of several private gardens in the region including Tregothnan Estate and Trewithen Gardens – both claim to have earlier flowerings in previous years.

About champion trees?

Champion trees are individual trees which are exceptional examples of their species because of their enormous size, great age, rarity or historical significance.  The oldest and largest of the six champion trees being monitored was planted around 1870 and is located at Caerhays Castle. ?

 Last year we took an amazing aerial video of this tree in flower.