Rhododendron Blooming in Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, Victoria 2024

The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden (formerly known as the National Rhododendron Garden) is located 40 km east of Melbourne on the eastern ridge of Dandenong Mountain and 500 m from the village of Olinda. The park of 20 hectares was founded in 1961 on lands granted by the state government, newly formed by the Australian Society of Rhododendron (ASR).

Today, the Garden boasts 15,000 rhododendrons, 12,000 azaleas, 3,000 camellias, 250,000 daffodils and other beautiful flowers and plants grow. The park contains a large decorative lake, sensory gardens, deep ferns and small gardens.

Of course, the main flower of the park is the fragrant rhododendron! The park collection includes about 550 of these species. These stunning beautiful shrubs are even catching up on the popularity of roses. The blossom flower range in colour from white to pink, red, yellow, and mauve. Some flowers are even multicoloured with spots, stripes, or a single blotch of a different colour in the throat of the flower. The blooming season usually runs from June to early December.

There are other flowers and plants to be explored in the Garden. August is the season of flowering yellow daffodils. The grove with cherry trees and flowering daffodils is small but very picturesque in September. It's not Japanese Fuji, no, but it has its own spring charm. Magnolias in the city have already faded, but here in the mountains, just begin blooming. There are magnolia trees with very large flowers. It's hard to believe that it happens.