CAERHAYS Castle has scooped first prize in a Roayl Horticultural Society (RHS) competition.
This year the RHS National Rhododendron Show and Competition was combined with the South West Camellia and Magnolia Show, at Rosemoor garden in north Devon.
Caerhays' entry into the South West show - Magnolia Surprise - won first place and was awarded the Quicke Cup, presented for the best magnolia in show.
The castle's Magnolia Atlas and a single flower of Magolia Campbellii alba seedling were both also awarded firsts.
"Everybody in the garden business had a terrible time with frosts early in the season so we got off to a slow start," said estate owner and recognised magnolia expert Charles Williams.
"I am pleased to say we normally set ourselves a very high standard and do come away with awards but we have done exceptionally well this year and it reflects well on the whole Caerhays gardens team."
The awards were presented by RHS president Elizabeth Banks.
In the rhododendron show, Caerhays won the Lionel de Rothschild Challenge Cup for six rhododendron species, which were sinogrande, arizelum rubicosum group, macabeanum, falconeri-sub-exonium, semnoides and niveum.
The castle's spring gardens are home to a National Magnolia Collection. They are open to the public until Sunday, June 16, on which day it holds a charity fete.
