The signature tree of the Friends of Glen Goyle is Crinodendron hookerianum, known as the Chilean Lantern Tree:
Introduced into cultivation in the U.K. by Cornish plant collector William Lobb for Veitch Nurseries of Exeter in 1848, its flowers make it a highly valued ornamental shrub or small tree, and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
Crinodendron hookerianum – Wikipedia
The Veitch Nurseries were “one of the country’s most important historic nurseries”:
The Veitch Nurseries – Friends of Glen Goyle
And it was thought at the time that FOGG was being set up that a Veitch specimen would be ideal for the Glen:
It would be perfect for the Goyle for three reasons: its beautiful flowers are great for bees, it is suited to the setting, and it is a Veitch original courtesy of William Lobb.
Veitch plants in Glen Goyle – Friends of Glen Goyle
A specimen was donated two years ago by Ed Dolphin, of the Arboretum, the SVBG and the SVA’s History Group. Unfortunately it has since died back, as can of course happen with any plant – and so there are plans to introduce new plantings over the course of this year.
Here is what it could look like – with a photo from FOGG working party member Katie Frost’s garden in Sidmouth – published here with permission:
And here is the FOGG logo designed by VGS webmaster Mary Walden-Till – displaying the distinctive flower of the Chilean Lantern Tree:
