When Ian Brodie, 24th Laird of Brodie, succeeded to the title in 1889, he inherited a perfect setting for one of his favourite plants – the daffodil.
As an eminent breeder of the brilliant yellow blooms in the late 19th and early 20th century, he gained global recognition for his work. It was during this period that Brodie Castle became synonymous with the flower, and it is still one of the best places in Scotland to see daffodils. Indeed, it’s home to the National Daffodil Collection.
The castle’s garden and designed landscape date back to the 1730s. These grounds were Ian Brodie’s workshop and over the years he raised tens of thousands of plants in the walled garden. This is where he saw his new creations take shape and decided whether they were worthy of being named or registered. Although he produced thousands of hybrids, only 185 met his high standards. Other gardeners have continued to use and register new cultivars based on his original creations – to date there are about 400 varieties of Brodie daffodils.
Today, visitors can enjoy great swathes of daffodils around the grounds and down Cathedral Walk. In the Playful Garden, around 100 named varieties are planted out as they would have been in the Laird’s day. To see them at their brightest and best, visit in April.
