Rubus 'Benenden'

This beautiful shrub, a bramble relative, has long arching canes carrying 2-inch pure white flowers with golden stamens, along the entire length. The soft green, lobed leaves make a lovely foil for the crepe paper flowers. In 1950, at his home in Benenden, Kent, Captain Collingwood Ingram ('Cherry' Ingram) raised this hybrid from two similar species: R. deliciosus, which was introduced from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in 1870, and R. trilobus, introduced from Mexico in 1938. The Royal Horticultural Society has bestowed its Award of Garden Merit on R. 'Benenden'. It grows on the Thompson Road drive below the South Lodge.