Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden, Rhododendron conservation center in Federal Way, Washington, US
The Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden is a plant conservation center in Washington displaying one of the world's largest collections of rhododendrons. The facility spans 24 acres of woodlands with native conifers and includes a conservatory building for tropical varieties.
The Foundation was established in 1964 when a botanist began collecting and importing rhododendron cuttings after visiting British gardens. This beginning led to decades of plant collection and research work at the site.
The garden shows how these flowering shrubs fit into the natural landscape of the Pacific Northwest and why people here are drawn to cultivating them. Walking through the grounds reveals how the local community values plant diversity and conservation.
The grounds include woodland trails where visitors can explore the plant collection in a natural setting. The conservatory building and garden shop are accessible to most guests throughout the week.
The collection here holds roughly 850 different rhododendron species, making it one of the most complete assemblages in existence. This makes the garden a destination for plant researchers and enthusiasts who travel from around the world to study and see them.
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