Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Specific Families and Genera => Rhododendron and other Ericaceae => Topic started by: johnw on January 27, 2016, 08:37:00 PM
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Just back from a trip out to balmy Vancouver, BC. Two related new rhododendrons that caught my attention and demolished my wallet were R. yuefengense and its larger more Northerly and likely more tender cousin R. platypodum. My it rains alot out there; in every instance the downpours stopped just in time for garden and nursery visits.
johnw - +7c & overcast
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Lovely shiny leaves on the R.yuefengense, John.
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Lovely shiny leaves on the R.yuefengense, John.
Roma - 130" of shine a year in Deep Cove, BC where that yuefengense grows compared to 62" where the playpodum grows in N. Vancouver.
john
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Some day I will record the month or months that Rhododendron 'Tropic Glow' x saxifragoides best and its sibling are not in flower. Being an alpine vireya hybrid (saxifragoides) and not at all frost hardy it is likely not one for areas with warm humid summers. Why has saxifragoides not been crossed with the many other colourful but unruly vireyas. After all these years this one still measures no more than 12cm x 12cm (5" x 5").
john
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Small but perfectly formed little Rhodo.
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A few Rhododendrons from our Sacramento, California garden.
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The last of the flowers on Rhododendron dauricum 'Midwinter'. It did indeed bloom during the winter this year. The species has a tendency to bloom in the autumn in our Sacramento garden. The autumn blooming flowers never last long and the plant does not look "right" when blooming in the autumn. This year it held out until winter and looked great for 5 weeks!
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A seedling Rhododendron mucronulatum. In our Sacramento garden, this species has a tendency to bloom in the autumn too. I selected it because it holds its flower buds until February before opening. Other named varieties in this area through flowers in the autumn, so I am pleased with this seedling.
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Rhododendron.
Rh. It is a taliense, but I am unsure of the name. Does anyone know the name of this Rhododendron? it blooms in April, about 3 m high
Thorkild. DK
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A few more Rhododendrons from our Sacramento home.
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Another Rhododendron mucronulatum seedling in full bloom and looking great.
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R. mucronulatum 'Cornell Pink'. Our 'Cornell Pink' up at the farm is also in full bloom. Most years the plant at the farm blooms about 2-3 weeks later than the one in Sacramento.
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Rhododendron mucronulatum 'Berg's Best' blooming in our Sacramento, California garden, Tuesday, 16 February. The flower color and the compact plant habit of this variety is excellent, however in our gardening climate it needs to be placed correctly to avoid blooming in the autumn. On this plant most of the flowers opened in the autumn leaving very few to open this spring. Siting this variety so that it is shaded in the autumn from the hot late summer/autumn sun helps ameliorate this situation
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I must say that 'Berg's Best' is an extraordinary colour. Could it be the very early flowering combined with that California sunshine that gives it such intensity? Meanwhile I have to ask is it a dwarf or a regular mucronulatum?
Glorious spring day at 12c, snow gone, grass green but winter shall return. Boy were we lucky to have missed the worst of that nasty arctic blast the rest of eastern North America got, record lows were shattered all through Ontario, Québec and New England.
john
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I must say that 'Berg's Best' is an extraordinary colour. Could it be the early flowering combined with the California sunshine that gives it such intensity? Meanwhile I have to askis it a dwarf or a regular mucrionulatum?
Glorious spring day at 12c, snow gone, grass green but winter shall return. Boy were we lucky to have missed the worst of that nasty arctic blast the rest of eastern North America got, record lows were shattered.
john
John,
'Berg's Best' is not a dwarf like variety taquetii. It certainly is a compact grower compared to most other "regular" forms of R. mucronulatum, maybe 2/3 the size. It clearly has a tighter inter-node space, but nothing like var. tequetii.
I wish that I could keep var. tequetii going here in our hot part of California. I have used it as a parent for some hybrids, however care-giving my elderly parents has turned that into a disaster. :'( I can grow seedlings to blooming age but they seem to give up shortly afterwards.
A good question regarding color intensity! Generally our hot sun causes the flowers to fade and are they are much less intense. I do not have an answers - I just do not know why they look so good this year. Maybe they want me to keep them around in the garden. :)
What good fortune that you missed the worst of the cold weather.
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Rhododendron.
I have no answers received on the Rhododendron. It would be great if Birck might have an answer.
Thorkild. DK.
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Benmore gardens
That time of year already for the member's meeting and an update of what has happened in the gardens and future plans. The weather was not too bad with occasional rain showers. Peter Baxter took us round and outlined future plans. The main one being a complete renewal of the 4 acre walled garden. The main feature being a large pool in the middle with most of the small trees being removed and being replaced with new plantings. Some of the Chilean pines near the house had to be felled as they were near the end of their natural lifespan...being well over 100 years old. The plan is to replace them with Redwoods which are being grown-on in the garden.
He also mentioned that a few of the Redwoods were being damaged by people "punching" the spongy bark ! Why would anyone do this ?
Also there are plans to remove some of the Rhododendrons from the top area of the hill to more accessible sites lower down. I would certainly approve of this as my knees complain at the 500 foot ascent over some very rough and steep tracks and even more so on the descent !
We had not time to explore for flowering but a couple had started already. Provided there are no frosts the garden should start flowering in mid March.
Some pictures of the day's outing.
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Some more pictures. This is the first time I have seen the pond being cleaned although it must have been as it has a butyl lining.
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Thanks for the pictures and the report on the "state of play". It's always nice to hear and see and maybe one of these days I shall visit Bemore myself.
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David
I was in Plymouth twice last month and stayed in Cawsand for a night. We had hoped to look in on Mt.Edgcumbe to see the camellias on the way to the Torpoint ferry, but the weather was vile with a visibility of about 100 yards so we missed out on that.
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David
I was in Plymouth twice last month and stayed in Cawsand for a night. We had hoped to look in on Mt.Edgcumbe to see the camellias on the way to the Torpoint ferry, but the weather was vile with a visibility of about 100 yards so we missed out on that.
Just a normal day here Tom! Mount Edgcumbe will be on our RADAR as soon as we get anything that remotely looks a reasonable day.
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Hej Thorklid
Any indument on foliage
and how many lobes in the flower
birck
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A few Rhododendrons from our Sacramento garden.
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Rhododendron johnstoneanum x moupinense
This hybrid is cold hardy in our garden except for the flower buds. I have always protected the flower buds every winter so that they were not winter killed. This winter I did nothing - the best flowering every, and the winter was somewhat cold. Go figure. ???
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Rhododendron pubescens
Surprisingly drought, heat, and sun tolerant. This plant is also a very compact and tidy grower considering the species.
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Rhododendron scabrifolium var. spiceferum
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Another view of the same species. Another tough, relatively drought tolerant species. It is very tolerant of heat and the hot California sun too. A very leggy grower - best cut back right after blooming for the best appearance and plenty of flowers for next season.
We also grow R. scabrifolium up at our El Dorado County farm. Its character is the same as above, however the flowers are white with a flush of pink. Both R. pubescens and scabrifolium have bristle-like, hairy foliage that is attractive.
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Rhododendron.
Hello Birck. Thanks for the answer, I think there are 6-7 lobes, to be sure, I must wait until April when it blooms.
Thorkild
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Rhododendron mallotum (or something close to it) blooming in the garden up at the farm. I grew this plant from seed - started in 1987 (? maybe earlier). This is the first time this plant has bloomed. This plant seems like it has been through enough over the years! :'( Drought, branches broken by snow load, and too much neglect the past few seasons. It is a complete water hog, however now that it is blooming I will try to keep it going - drought or no drought. The flowers and the foliage are very attractive. :)
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Lovely set of Rhododendron Robert. I keep a few in pots, plenty of buds but a bit early for flowers yet.
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Rhododendron mallotum (or something close to it) blooming in the garden up at the farm. I grew this plant from seed - started in 1987 (? maybe earlier). This is the first time this plant has bloomed... It is a complete water hog, however now that it is blooming I will try to keep it going - drought or no drought...
That's a gorgeous flower - worth the wait! Congrats,
cheers
fermi
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Lovely set of Rhododendron Robert. I keep a few in pots, plenty of buds but a bit early for flowers yet.
Thank you David. As the garden evolves growing some of the smaller Rhododendrons in tubs will be my strategy. This is more work hand watering, but it will save water. Clearly some of the larger Rhododendrons, such as R. mallotum, I intend on keeping in the ground. :) The poor plant may be misshaped, but the foliage is beautiful all year. :) and where it's placed it has never burned. :)
I look forward to seeing some of your Rhododendrons in bloom.
Thank you Fermi. Very much worth the wait!
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Rhododendron mallotum (or something close to it) blooming in the garden up at the farm. I grew this plant from seed - started in 1987 (? maybe earlier). This is the first time this plant has bloomed. This plant seems like it has been through enough over the years! :'( Drought, branches broken by snow load, and too much neglect the past few seasons. It is a complete water hog, however now that it is blooming I will try to keep it going - drought or no drought. The flowers and the foliage are very attractive. :)
Beautiful - worth waiting for, Robert. You've beaten my own record of waiting nearly thirty years for the first flowers on Rh. auriculatum. I hope that now your plant has begun to flower it will delight you with lots of flowers each year!
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30 years is a record I do not want to break again, however, yes indeed, it was worth the wait. :)
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Very beautiful! Good encouragement for growing rhodos from seeds :)
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Very beautiful! Good encouragement for growing rhodos from seeds :)
But Robert did get a hybrid rather than the straight species he thought he was getting. The odds of getting somethung this good is somewhat akin to one's chances at the weekly Lotto.
john
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But Robert did get a hybrid rather than the straight species he thoiught he was getting. The odds of getting this good is somewhat akin to one's chances at the weekly Lotto.
john
You're right, and considering I'm the kind of person that never wins anything.... :( :) In truth I only want to start from seeds R. myrtifolium from the Carpathian Mts. I read somewhere that it may flower in 7-8 years? and it would be the true species 100%.
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Not to worry, we are all in the same boat with rhodo seeds and lottos. The late flowering of myrtifolium should rule out any stray pollination from other species. Might have a bit ofr tolerance for higher pH (???).
john
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Gabriela,
Here is another hybrid "seedling" Rhododendron from our Sacramento garden (photo taken on Sunday). It will never win any awards, but this is okay. It is still nice enough to keep in our garden. :)
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Yellow Maddenia type hybrid.
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It is a bit of a rangy grower but looks good in the background poking up above the plants in the foreground.
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Very nice flowers, Robert!
I have grown quite a few rhododendrons from seed and I keep them all if they survive! I never have the heart to remove any :-\
These are all from seed, and the first one flowered after 3 years. No names except the last one which is seed of sutchuenense. No flowers here yet so the pictures are from a previous year.
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Last Saturday I had to remove limbs with several flower buds from the sutchuenense. It has grown too big and blocked the path completely :'(
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Nice flowers!
I wonder if there is a source where I can find how long certain Rhododendron species / crosses take from sowing to first time flowering? (General indication of course!)
I got some nice 3 year old seedlings of Rhododendron brachycarpum x galactinum from a cross made by a very knowledgable gardener in coastal Nova Scotia ;) and seedlings from Rhododendron makinoi. I hope first flowering is not in 30 years time ;D
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Very nice rhodos Robert and Trond! I would also keep them all :) It's not impossible to grow some here but much easier to give a try for deciduous azaleas, or low type evergreens that would remain under snow.
Not to worry, we are all in the same boat with rhodo seeds and lottos. The late flowering of myrtifolium should rule out any stray pollination from other species. Might have a bit ofr tolerance for higher pH (???).
john
I don't know why you are saying this, how about those beautiful cv. of yours I've seen posted? They are gorgeous.
I read about a bit more tolerance too, but I don't remember where and until tried who knows. Anyway, it could be grown in a dedicated trough with the right mix.
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I don't know why you are saying this, how about those beautiful cv. of yours I've seen posted? They are gorgeous.
The azaleas were the result of a very deliberate & complex strategy that involved a quite a few years of growing. Evergreen azaleas can be flowered in 2-3 years from seed so the process is rather speedy. Such is not the case with elepidotes, I have been breeding them for 35 years and have named not a one. That would be a total 1683 crosses according to my records. I may name two. Ask how many were trashed! Things get much easier when one lives in benign climate and one can collect seed in gardens where only the best and most exotic are grown. Factor in the reuqrement of hardiness and it's an entirely different matter.
john
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As you can tell I am not very knowledgeable in rhodos/azaleas. I didn't mean to say you got those cv. by chance - I imagined there was planning in obtaining them.
That would be great to have at least a hardy rhodo named after all the work! :)
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As you can tell I am not very knowledgeable in rhodos/azaleas. I didn't mean to say you got those cv. by chance - I imagined there was planning in obtaining them.
That would be great to have at least a hardy rhodo named after all the work! :)
Seed collected in the wild by a reputable grower is always worth a go. As well why not start with evergreen azaleas, use an old dependable that you like and cross it with a species like a good kiusianum or nakaharai and you will be soon get a good batch of garden worthy seedlings, maybe not ones to be named but in the process you will have selected out good-doers for your area.
Some lepidotes are worth growing from seed, ones like the dwarf forms of mucronulatum which one can flower in a year or two. And hardiness is not an issue.
john
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Very nice flowers, Robert!
I have grown quite a few rhododendrons from seed and I keep them all if they survive! I never have the heart to remove any :-\
These are all from seed, and the first one flowered after 3 years. No names except the last one which is seed of sutchuenense. No flowers here yet so the pictures are from a previous year.
Trond,
Your seedling Rhododendrons look great - or at least I would have a hard time tossing them too. ;D
Before I started to care for my elderly parents, I bred Rhododendrons (vegetables too). Great fun! and something that became incredibly interesting. Many years ago I used the pedigree method to breed Rhododendrons, with poor results. I needed to find something that worked for me. Fortunately, I had been doing the right things all along, I just was not applying the techniques to Rhododendrons. It is hard to believe it took me so long to wake up. :-[ Anyway, sound, well established techniques brought me results (you can find this information in any university text on traditional plant breeding - even old ones from the early 1980's ), some projects of which I want to return to in the future. Creating male fertile hybrid lepidote Rhododendrons (many are male sterile) from ones that had been male sterile is one such project. This is most likely a nerdy project for someone like me (not very glamourous :P ). At least I find the project completely fascinating and believe that it opens a whole new world of possibilities with lepidote Rhododendrons (at least for me).
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Seed collected in the wild by a reputable grower is always worth a go. As well why not start with evergreen azaleas, use an old dependable that you like and cross it with a species like a good kiusianum or nakaharai and you will be soon get a good batch of garden worthy seedlings, maybe not ones to be named but in the process you will have selected out good-doers for your area.
Some lepidotes are worth growing from seed, ones like the dwarf forms of mucronulatum which one can flower in a year or two. And hardiness is not an issue.
john
Thank you very much for the advice; I will keep it, who knows...For now I will concentrate on Hepatica, nothing fancy but would like to select few good colour forms for americana and acutiloba. May be hard to believe but they are not easy to find (to buy) and when it happens is mainly a wash-out white H.americana.
The fact that I can rely on myself for seeds makes a big difference :)
Except the Northern Lights series there are hardly other azaleas to buy here.
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A few Rhododendrons in bloom.
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A very fine color form of R. racemosum grown from wild seed. It behaves and looks a bit different from any of my other wild forms of R. racemosum. It may have some other "blood" in it.
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Rhododendron spinuliferum
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These are also from wild seed. They have done well despite our summer heat and drought.
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Robert - Wonderful shots of spinuliferum, a real pick-me-up as we brace for yet another Nor'easter which threatens to bomb-out. Sadly spinuliferum is far too tender for the east coast so a plan of action was required. Your photo was timely as I have just come in from the greenhouse where I crossed two sibling (mucronulatum v. taguetii* x spinuliferum Starling's clear & darkest red) for the F2, one dwarf one and one tall. It was no problem replicating the leaves in the F1, while the flowers are a tad pinched they are not dramatically pinched as in the species. We'll see if the pinch & colour will come in the F2, and on a dwarf plant as I reckon taller ones are brittle. The trials and tribulations of living in a climate with a real winter. ...
* as 'Cheju'
john
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John,
I very much appreciate and find interesting your latest input. I take it the taquetii x spinuliferum F1 was male fertile? I will be very curious how the F2 sort. I have a mucronulatum 'Berg's Best' x racemosum dwarf that is completely male sterile. It is a dwarf plant (less than 30cm after 15 years), very heat tolerant, and looks like hell during the winter (it retains very few leaves). It was a good parent with R. edgeworthii producing some very good plants.
I tried some spinuliferum hybrids right before I had to mothball the project. Now that I can resume things I have been looking around - maybe I will find those seed pans. At least there has been a silver lining to the whole experience. Many of the liner pots I had sitting around on the ground have produced blooming plants. What a wake-up. Being able to bring 50 plants into bloom in less than 1 square meter was an eye opener for me. No matter what sort of breeding methodology one uses it is still a numbers game. I used this same technique (selecting from 200-300 F2 or F3 plants within a very small area) when breeding hybrid tomatoes (except in a sightly different way).
Before the rains started I took some photographs of some of the on going hybrids. At this point in the project success is defined as; fixing traits; getting hybrids to behave as specie (i.e. generally over coming male sterility); and having some good clues as to the genotype of potential parents. A few of the hybrids have turned out a little better than I thought. I'll post the photographs when I get a chance.
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Very nice Robert! Rh. spinuliferum and racemosum are two species I have planned to try here :) Now you have made me expedite the plans ;)
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R. spinuliferum is absolutely gorgeous!
John - if you ever get a dwarf hybrid that's not up to your standards please don't trash it ;)
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No sterility in the F1 cross Robert. The F1 was extremely fast growing and set buds in 8 months from seed. I did the F2 last year as well. Red is notoriously difficult to acheive when hardiness is in the equation. We'd be quite happy with the spinuliferum flower shape and a dwarf habit whatever the colour.
john
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John,
Heat tolerance, cold tolerance, horizontal disease and insect resistance, etc. are tough nuts to crack. In some cases it is genetically unfeasible. In other case, I am sure that some sort of progress can be made. Very good luck with everything!
Trond,
It is pouring rain still! :) When I farmed, I not only maintained my own breeding lines, but I also maintained many seed varieties. I know how to maintain the purity of a seed line (I had to!). If you are not interested in wild seed, I can supply you with seed of R. spinuliferum and an excellent line of R. pubescens. They will not be selfs but controlled crosses of the best types all mixed together. This will give you much more genetic variation than a selfed seed line, while still maintaining the purity of the species.
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Rhododendron pubescens at the farm. This is a selection from wild seed, JN988. This selection is 70cm tall x 150 cm wide after 15-16 years. As far as the Rhododendron world is concerned, it is most likely a mediocre specimen. Here in hot, interior California this is very acceptable. It may not smoother itself with flowers, but for our part of California this is a very good blooming performance. Heat tolerance, a relative degree of drought tolerance, and interesting and attractive foliage makes it a winner for us.
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The following are some F1 hybrids. Above is a selected F2 inbred line of R. racemosum Forrest 19404 x R. calostrotum 'Gigha'. This is the best selection. Most performed very poorly with our heat. It is still a keeper as a breeder.
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This F1 hybrid has performed much better. It is the same selected F2 racemosum dwarf x dendrocharis. The flowers are good, the foliage is okay, and it has acceptable heat tolerance. Once again this is only a breeder with a much more ambitious goal in mind.
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This is a hybrid I call 'Rosa's First Kiss', it is a racemosum 'dwarf' (i.e. Forrest 19404 F1) x lutescens 'Bagshot Sands'. It gets somewhat tall, however it is extremely heat tolerant and has a nice color.
All of the above hybrids are male sterile.
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This is an advanced generation F2 of 'Rosa's First Kiss'. It is fertile both ways. I have several lines I am proceeding with, hoping I can recover what I am looking for. I have not grown on enough seedlings. 200-300 will be good. Now when I grow on another batch of F2 seedlings I will cram them all together. I am only wanting to select a certain flower color and shape at this time. Out breeding it with other specific inbred lines will be the next step.
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This hybrid is R. racesosum x edgeworthii. So what! This has been around forever, except for in this plant the female parent is the dwarf F2 inbred line of racemosum Foreest 19404. This hybrid was created this way with a very specific intent. In the mean time it is pretty to look at.
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This is an advanced generation racemosum dwarf Forrest 19404 F1 X polycladum. The original F1 hybrid is male sterile. The next generation plants are fertile both ways. The above pictured plant is an offspring of the F2's i.e. a F3 plant, and is also fertile both ways. This plant is a success, not because it is a beautiful hybrid, but because some of the theories I have worked out may indeed have some merit. Actually it is not such a terrible plant, 30 cm tall x 45 cm wide after 5 years and very heat tolerant. I am sure it would look a little better if it had not been neglected for the past 3-4 years. Based on its parentage I think it will stay very small. I will keep it around as it may turn out to be a good breeder.
As you can see, I am not producing award winning hybrids. I measure my success in terms of the technical progress I am making. I guess one of those geeky things that does not attract much interest, however for me it is fun and very rewarding.
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Oooppss. Here is a close-up of the above hybrid what what it is worth. :)
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Trond,
It is pouring rain still! :) When I farmed, I not only maintained my own breeding lines, but I also maintained many seed varieties. I know how to maintain the purity of a seed line (I had to!). If you are not interested in wild seed, I can supply you with seed of R. spinuliferum and an excellent line of R. pubescens. They will not be selfs but controlled crosses of the best types all mixed together. This will give you much more genetic variation than a selfed seed line, while still maintaining the purity of the species.
Robert
Hope it still is raining ;)
I would be very pleased to try your seed! I have plants both of wild collected seed, selected crosses and open pollinated ones (and named varieties of course). Genetic variation is important and especially when I try plants which are less hardy. And I am no purist ;D
Do you still have seed of your breeding lines from your farming days? You should deposit some in the Svalbard Seed Vault :)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svalbard_Global_Seed_Vault
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. . . .
As you can see, I am not producing award winning hybrids. I measure my success in terms of the technical progress I am making. I guess one of those geeky things that does not attract much interest, however for me it is fun and very rewarding.
Oooppss. Here is a close-up of the above hybrid what what it is worth. :)
Very interesting Rober! Seems you have may irons in the fire ;D
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Trond,
We had a major wind - rain storm last night. The place is a mess! - both semi-flooded and broken branches everywhere. I will have to check the rain gauge this morning - we had over 50mm yesterday, maybe the same last night. More heavy rain is to arrive tonight. :)
I keep all of my seeds (vegetables and others) in a dedicated refrigerator. Most are keep cool and dry, others can be frozen for very long term storage.
Here in the U.S.A. there is considerable controversy concerning the Svalbard Seed Vault. There are a few that believe that the seed storage facility is controlled by U.S. multi-national corporations such as Monsanto for nefarious purposes. Very silly stuff - like trying to convince folks that chickens have lips. It is hard to believe that such a small group can create such a large fuss as they do with no evidence to support their claim. Maybe this can only happen in the U.S.A. ??? :P :-[ :'(
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Nice to see a polyclaum/scintillans hybrid there, likely one that would do very well here. There is virtually no interest in hybridizing with the Lapponica Subsection east of the Rockies aside from here and Newfoundland, largely due to the lack of heat tolerance. Your hybrid proves they've been missing the boat and should have been using racemosum, jury out I suppose on whether it can take heat & eastern humidity.
johnw - sunny & a chilly +4c.
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Rhododendron christi.
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Ralph,
"Vireya" type Rhododendrons can certainly be spectacular and the fragrance of some can be alluring.
Thank you for sharing.
Here are the first of the Deciduous Azaleas from our Sacramento bungalow.
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Earl Sommerville's 'Angle Lace'. This variety has stayed very compact for us, 1 meter at the most. The flowers have a nice fragrance.
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Rhododendron austrinum 'Moonbeam'. A tough, extremely heat tolerant species. For us, 'Moonbeam' is always the first of the R. austrinum types to bloom in the spring. On warm days, like today, the fragrance is divine. A tall grower - it is nice to have the room for at least one.
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Rhododendron luteum 'Golden Comet'. A nice selection from the Rhododendron Species Foundation. Fragrant and beautiful autumn foliage.
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I found the following Western Azaleas growing on a cliff ledge in the canyon of the North Fork of the Feather River. During the summer high temperatures in the canyon can be extreme. Temperatures of 110 F (43 C ) are not unusual. All the selections thrive in our garden. Another unusual feature is that they bloom 2 months before Rhododendron occidentale normally blooms in our area (at the same elevation). All have excellent bright scarlet autumn foliage and are very fragrant.
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Very nice, Robert. The sky is very blue, nice to see given our usual grey!
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Robert,
lovely blooming :)
Although we have had sun and up to 12C the last days it is still some time till the rhodos flower.
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Ralph,
Up to the last few days we have had plenty of rainy and overcast weather. We had close to 250 mm of rain in the first half of March. For the most part the flowers got all beat-up by the rain and wind (at times gales). The rain has been a blessing! :) For our drought stricken land this is an understatement. Now that it has cleared out for awhile the new flowers are looking great.
Trond,
25 C today! This is the first wave of flowers in the garden. Out in the countryside where there has been no development or grazing the wildflowers are amazing this year. Absolutely stunning!
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I need help - I keep looking at these lovely azaleas and sniffing the air in hope! How I would enjoy that scent if only I could!
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Spring weather at last at Culzean! We were pleased to see that the early Rhods. were starting to flower along with some rather nice Magnolias.
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A couple more. Bottom Rh. is Praecox
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That's more like Spring, Tom - and about time too!
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A few early pictures from Benmore taken on 16 March. We will wait until early April to return. By which time the flowering should be underway.
1723 is Rh Oreodoxa
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Rhododendron radians in the polytunnel.
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New species of Rhododendron described by George Argent @RBGE_Science now on an Austrian stamp
Rhododendron brentelii
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Not much to boast of but it is the first Rhododendron to flower this spring - later than usually though.
Rh sutchuenense. The best trusses are too high up to picture.
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Rhododendron 'Praecox'
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The reds are starting to bloom: Rhododendron 'Kaponga' and Rhododendron mallotum.
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I could smell R. luteum in a Perthshire wood but it took me a long time to find it. The scent was wafting on the still warm air for a long way. If you are in the area, Dundock Wood at Coldstream is a blaze of colour in season with Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Entrance is free from the hidden lay-by on the A697, about one mile north of the village. Look for a gap in the hedge. There is plenty of parking space. Late May or early June should be right.
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Rhododendron sutchuenense
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1449/25717673254_d66630e6b6_o_d.jpg)
Rhododendron forrestii repens
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1521/25719780213_97f0aaf5ee_o_d.jpg)
Rhododendron parmulatum "Ocelot"
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1536/25719779343_ed4a6f6e06_o_d.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1695/25717688804_e497b223c6_o_d.jpg)
Rhododendron leucaspis
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1589/26256302661_51ae38e5ba_o_d.jpg)
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dendrocharis grown outdoors all the year
jens
Rh. luciferum
Rh. roxianum
Rh. dendrocharis
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Exquisite rhododendrons and photography there Jens and Steve.
Some really difficult rhodos there as well. I've always considered 'Ocelot' virtually impossible to grow even if it were hardy. Within 4 hours of landing in Copenhagen Jens took me to the garden of Jørgen Nielsen in Vedde and there I was standing in front of a huge volcano of rocks perhaps 5m high and 7m across at the base. Halfway up was 'Ocelot' growing between massive boulders in pure peat, not only the picture of health but as tight and full as one could possibly imagine. Steve's 'Ocelot' is as impressive as is Jens' rarity luciferum, what marvellous flowers on both. The first luciferum flowers I've ever seen.
One can only drool.
john
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Many thanks John.
Sadly I will have to try to move this Ocelot -an almost impossible task. It grows adjacent to the eastern wall of our house partially under the eaves. This summer the fascia and guttering of the house are to be replaced and so the plant will need to be moved to allow access. I am hopeful that it will survive hard pruning and transplant though I fear the worst. 25 years ago we bought a number of Rhodo species and Magnolias for various parts of our garden. The garden is not large and now many of these plants have grown too big. Sadly we were not very sensible as to what was planted where!
On a separate note can you help with the identification of these two rhododendron species?
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=14229.0#new (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=14229.0#new)
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Hello Brick.
So here I am again with Rhododendron, I would like to have the name of, the flower has 7 lobes: 2 images.
Thorkild
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Rhododendron.
Rhododendron recurvoides Birck.
Numan's form af recurvoides
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sorry cant help
jens birck
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Rhododendron ochraceum, R. pemakoense, R. 'Songbird'.
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This miniature rhodo. is growing nicely in one of my troughs but I seem to have lost its label.
I would be grateful for an ID please. It has scented leaves as well as these wonderful mini flowers.
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Graham - it has a look of Rh. anthopogon Betty Graham.
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Looks like Jens' cephalanthum. R. cepahalanthum v. crebreflorum maybe??? Damn clean foliage.
john
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Thanks for the suggestions Maggi and John.
Now you suggest it John I remember it to be cephalanthum whether it is v. crebreflorum or not I don't know. I just remember writing cephalanthum on the label that is now lost. I can't remember where I got it from though. Probably a nursery at an SRGC show.
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Too deep pink for most of the crebreflorum group I'd have thought. Also would expect to see visible pores on the foliage for a cephalanthum.... ??
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There's a Glendoick form we have called ('
Deep Pink' oops that's a primuliforum)]. Very confusing lot and can't really see the foliage all that well, there's vars or ssp.Nmaiense, platyphyllum along with the type. ??? Seems early for cephalanthum but then again you don't have winter over there, just occasional frosts. :-[
john
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crebreflorum as it look here
"pores"
to see them depend on angel of light
jens
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Ok, forgot v. cephalanthoides too.
Here's Jens' own cephalanthum, nice pink.
john
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Thanks all for the additional information. Looking at the leaves I'm not sure if there are obvious pores but looking at the above photos they aren't that noticeable on some of them.
What ever it is its an amazing little Rhodo.
Thanks again :)
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[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
Anybody know what this pretty little Rhody might be? It's one of the earliest for me and reaches about 2' in height. It came with the house when we moved in - the previous owner had quite a nice collection.
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Looks like 'Snow Lady' - which is a hybrid of R. leucapsis , most likely with R. ciliatum
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Thanks Maggi, looks right to me!
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A few more in flower ........... and then came the frost!
Rhododendron megeratum
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1536/26149323874_be05dc57eb_o_d.jpg)
Rhododendron kesangiae -Some of the trusses are almost football-sized. This species is the only big-leaved rhododendron to have have done well here over the years.
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1667/26149328874_f3dc42e22c_o_d.jpg)
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Wonderful Steve, I must get a better camera!
This is labelled as Rhododendron schlippenbachii, first time flowering after several years. Does it look right?
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re: the schlipp - could very well be but a better foliage shot would help.
john
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Rhododendron 'Ginny Gee' Sorry about the shadow of my big head, why is it Steve never does things like that?
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David
This what Ginny Gee will grow to eventually. I thought it was a "dwarf "when I bought it about 12 years ago. Same with most of my Rhododendrons.
They always get bigger than what it says on the label.
This is the first year that the Cinnabarinum has flowered properly. I have two other species which will hopefully take, replacing the two which gave up the ghost for no obvious reason. Much to my relief, Lady Alice came through the Winter and is flowering profusely. The scent permeates the garden. My Edgeworthii has one bud opening and Tinkerbird is also looking good.
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This is labelled as Rhododendron schlippenbachii, first time flowering after several years. Does it look right?
In my opinion: no.
Attached a picture of Rhododendron schlippenbachii leaves
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Thanks, I'll take a close look at the leaves tomorrow.
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Rhododendron calostrotum 'Gigha' and R. 'Ems'.
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Tom, I don,t know if it is the same with Rhodos. but a conifer grower told me that the given height of a "dwarf " conifer usually refers to the height after ten years.
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David
This what Ginny Gee will grow to eventually. I thought it was a "dwarf "when I bought it about 12 years ago. Same with most of my Rhododendrons.
They always get bigger than what it says on the label.
Thanks for that Tom. I see that she grows to 40-60 cm in ten years so in 2026 I'll dodder down the garden and just check how accurate that is ;D
By the way, you've set me off. I've just be looking where I could get Lady Alice Fitzwilliuam and edgeworthii from!
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In my opinion: no. Attached a picture of Rhododendron schlippenbachii leaves
If you look at jrc's picture and to the leaf in the left fore corner, the one with the big hole on the right margin, it could very well be schlipp if it developed properly. Maybe he can find one good leaf and that will end the puzzle especially of it's somewhat obovate. Having said that judging from what I see of the flower it's a rather poor expression of this fine species.
john
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David
I think that Tinkerbird would suit you. Its compact, hardy and seems readily available, also with a perfume. Mine has been growing well for 4 years.
It can take a bit of frost. It grows outdoors at Glendoick and their winters are colder than mine. Devon should also be OK
Lady Alice and Edgeworthii are borderline hardy with me. They survived this winter with no damage but we have had little in the way of frost.
Both plants had been kept in large pots but outgrew the greenhouse space available so I took a chance on planting them.
I also bought an American scented hybrid, Martha Wright, from the Tree centre on Loch Fyne - this seems to be growing well.
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Many thanks for that Tom.
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Another that came with the house - I think it is 'Curlew'. Whatever it is I'm very fond of it.
[attach=1]
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Very nice , Tristan - I think it may be 'Chikor' - Curlew flowers aren't such a good colour and are a rounder shape.
Foliage suggests 'Chikor' too. Much better than any 'Chikor' I've had, by the way!
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Thanks Maggi, I'll post closeups of flowers and foliage so you can confirm.
I've lived here for about 15 years now and the plant was not much smaller when I arrived, so I think it's quite old. It's not in an ideal location (poor dry soil) which maybe encourages flowering at the expense of growth.
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Some Rhodos flowering. A bit of frost damage but not as bad as last year.
Group photo
Rhododendron hippophaeoides 'Haba Shan'
Rhododendron augustinii, flowering mainly on the north side and none on the top third of the plant. It got really hammered in the 2010/11 winter but grew away very well after pruning. I only remember it flowering all over about once. I saw it at the Cruickshank Botanic Garden on Friday ( from the same batch of cuttings ) looking very well.
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Rhododendron augustinii in the Cruickshank Botanic Garden
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We went out in the garden this morning and noticed about a dozen flower trusses from our KGV Loderi lying on the ground. I realised that it must have been the screaming easterly gale yesterday as we were leaving for Glasgow. I went to look at one of my Augustinii's and found it lying at 45° and wobbling about. I tried to gently push it back up and heard a crack. It had snapped off at ground level !
Easterly gales are rare here but do the most damage...as I have occasionally found out.
I felt gutted as it was one of my favourite plants but as they say, it gave me a planting opportunity. A Cinnabarinum I bought last week has now found a home.
The Kurume Azalea is about 40 years old.
Problem with the srgc resizer. My Augustinii came out at the correct size but was 328 kb so my post bounced. How do I sort this ?
I had to go in to Photoshop to effect a reduction in pixels.
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We went out in the garden this morning and noticed about a dozen flower trusses from our KGV Loderi lying on the ground. I realised that it must have been the screaming easterly gale yesterday as we were leaving for Glasgow. I went to look at one of my Augustinii's and found it lying at 45° and wobbling about. I tried to gently push it back up and heard a crack. It had snapped off at ground level !
Tom- I'd bet that augustinii comes roaring back, they can put on tremendous shoots.
john
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No, I dug up the roots and binned them. At my age I don't have time to try and resurrect the plant. It was in the wrong place. At least, I have an Augustinii exbury of about the same vintage and that is doing fine -next to a 6 foot fence and protected from the East winds.
On second thoughts I will rescue the roots and what is left of the stem and put them in a large pot filled with composted bark and see what happens.
I had an Edgeworthii cut to the ground in severe frost. It was taken out and planted in an unheated green house in the plunge sand. To my amazement, it started growing again from the base in the spring. I planted it out again in Autumn and of coursewe had our coldest late Winter frosts for years. By this time it had given up the ghost.
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Problem with the srgc resizer. My Augustinii came out at the correct size but was 328 kb so my post bounced. How do I sort this ?
I had to go in to Photoshop to effect a reduction in pixels.
Not sure, Tom - perhaps a general resize to reduce MB from the original? Hard when so many cameras make such huge files these days.
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If you look at jrc's picture and to the leaf in the left fore corner, the one with the big hole on the right margin, it could very well be schlipp if it developed properly. Maybe he can find one good leaf and that will end the puzzle especially of it's somewhat obovate. Having said that judging from what I see of the flower it's a rather poor expression of this fine species.
john
Here are the leaves.
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Rhododendron rubiginosum.
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Here are the leaves.
And that would be schlippenbachii.
john
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A few from this morning.
Rhododendron iteophyllum
Rhododendron dauricum 'Compactum Roseum'
Rhododendron mucronulatum v. taquetii aka 'Cheju'
Rhododendron primuliflorum (Glendoick's deep pink)
Rhododendron recurvoides x proteoides
john
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Maggi
All the other pictures re-sized within the limits except the Augustinii which came in at 328kb from 2.9 Mb jpeg. The others using the down-sizer were the same original size at 2.9 Mb and they were about 150Kb when downsized. It makes it awkward not knowing if they will take or not to the required size.
I can make them any size using Photoshop but it's a more involved process.
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Tom, I know that much larger filesizes can and do turn into "forum-sized" pix, so I really don't know what caused that hiccup. These things happen!
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Maggi (and others), here are some closeups of the yellow Rhody I posted earlier for confirming ID. Based on the photo in the Glendoick catalogue, I don't think it's Chikor Maggi but would be interested in your opinion as I am certainly no expert.
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Definitely not 'Curlew' which, as Maggi says, shows the influence of ludlowii with its roundish campanulate flowers. I say 'Chikor' - a bit of a stinker to grow well - or 'Chiffchaff'. Google 'Chikor' if you want a headache, some shots show pink in the petals which we've not reliably seen here, also 'Chikor' is a better yellow than shown. The foliage of 'Chikor' has a rusty cast due to a preponderance of scales on the leaves. 'Chiffchaff' seems a better bet.
john
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Now I see these pix I don't think Chikor either. Foliage is far too good! With the close-ups I agree with John - 'Chiffchaff'- and very nice too.
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Thanks both, that looks a good match to me. There is also no spotting inside the flowers which seems to match Chiffchaff better than the others, based on a search engine image search at least.
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Rhododendron 'Curlew', R. Bow Bells', R. yakushimanum 'Percy Wiseman', R. yakushimanum 'Golden Torch', R. yakushimanum 'Silver Sixpence'.
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Rhododendron 'Egret', R. 'Persil', R. niveum.
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Fresh from the RSBG via friends in British Columbia and in this morning's post.
Rhododendron platypodum and R. yuefengense, rather generous seedlings I'd say. Eight days in transit and not a blemish.
john
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In transit eight days? My word, they were well-packed. The platypodum is a very pleasantly plump baby!
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In transit eight days? My word, they were well-packed. The platypodum is a very pleasantly plump baby!
Well packed indeed. Egg crates on the bottom & top of the box's interior, a layer of styrofoam peanuts. Pots had wet newspaper over the roots ball and this was taped in place so the ball couldn't dislodge in transit. Then a stout bamboo culm was poked vertically into each pot right to the bottom, this culm was then cut to the exact width of the box and the plants placed horizontally in the box; the culm prevented pot movement within the box. For fear of the culm poking through the box I see they placed 2 wooden shingles on either end of the box to prevent puncturing by the bamboo on one end and dampness soften the cardboard on the opposite end. Then all voides filled to the brim with more styro peanuts.
It truly was a work of art, and must confess that friends asked for packing instructions and I gave them Ken's method though they cleverly foresaw the possible puncturing/wetting problem. I must say I was stunned the flowers were intact. And we haven't even mentioned the journey from Federal Way, Wa. to N. Vancouver, BC - another 170 miles.
Canada Post by truck = approx. 7.5 days / 3823.64 miles / 6,153.55km Cost = £16.72 Maddening how big this country is.
Now to re-pot.
johnw - +9c & intermittent showers.
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Lovely collection Ralph.
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Rhododendron 'Curlew'
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[attach=1]
Rhododendron sargentianum, yellow form.
[attach=2]
Various rhodys in the back garden. They were there when I moved here so I don't know what most of them are, though the yellow one is presumably straight R. luteum (wonderful scent) and there is a yakushimanum hybrid in there too. There is a 'Winsome' at the back which I think is my favourite.
[attach=3]
[attach=4]
I like this big red one too, even though I'm not generally a fan of the taller rhododendrons (I like the occasional one but find them gloomy and oppressive massed, as they often are). I expect Maggi will tell me what it is ;D
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Canada Post by truck = approx. 7.5 days / 3823.64 miles / 6,153.55km Cost = £16.72 Maddening how big this country is.
Amazing! I just sent an envelope of seeds to Alberta, which cost me $16. You got a super good deal.
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I've just come in from deadheading. I feel like a bee - my clothes and hair covered in pollen
and stamens, which I'm having to pick off one by one. It must be just this one plant, as I
don't recall this ever happening before. I have only done about an eighth of it. Now, how can
I finish the job without getting covered again? Now, a big windstorm might clear the stamens.
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I like this big red one too, even though I'm not generally a fan of the taller rhododendrons (I like the occasional one but find them gloomy and oppressive massed, as they often are). I expect Maggi will tell me what it is ;D
Haven't a scooby-doo, Tristan! Probably one of the older hybrids such as 'Michael Waterer' or 'Wilgen's Ruby'.... :-\ Smart plant, whatever.
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Amazing! I just sent an envelope of seeds to Alberta, which cost me $16. You got a super good deal.
Small business rate, though wish the book rate was back again. UK books are so costly I now have them sent to Dorsett for boarding on the QM2 in Sept and they come directly to Halifax, should be getting my friend to take cast iron gates as no limits by weight or volume. ;)
john
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For those too cold for R. augustinii here is an option and it's very cold hardy, R. 'Azuray'. It along with its sister seedling 'Bluenose' are hardy well below -25c so I'm told, they just need very sharp drainage. 'Azuray' in a good year can be a clear powder blue; here in a friend's/lurker's garden yesterday.
john
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Wow! and hardy to -25C!!!!
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Rhododendron Loderi Group 'King George', R. Loderi Group 'Pink Diamond', R. 'Ruby Hart', R. 'Graziella', R. cinnabarinum.
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For those too cold for R. augustinii here is an option and it's very cold hardy, R. 'Azuray'. It along with its sister seedling 'Bluenose' are hardy well below -25c so I'm told, they just need very sharp drainage. 'Azuray' in a good year can be a clear powder blue; here in a friend's/lurker's garden yesterday.
john
Lovely John, what sort of size does it get please?
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Rhododendron Loderi Group 'King George', R. Loderi Group 'Pink Diamond', R. 'Ruby Hart', R. 'Graziella', R. cinnabarinum.
Lovely stuff Ralph. Are you on ericaceous soil or do you grow in pots please. Do you grow your Loderi Group plants outdoors?
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Lovely John, what sort of size does it get please?
David - 'Azuray' gets to be about 6-8ft high and under a yard wide, actually quite narrow. 'Bluenose' is not quite as tall and much bushier. Haven't seen any bigger than that and they been around these parts since the early 80's.
Barry may very well have both as am sure we got them to him 20+ years ago.
If your part of Devon is as wet as my garden south, circa 65" and extreme fog, then drainage must be extra sharp, almost scree-like.
john
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Lovely stuff Ralph. Are you on ericaceous soil or do you grow in pots please. Do you grow your Loderi Group plants outdoors?
In large pots, David. We are on Weald clay. The Loderi Group plants are outdoors, as are all my Rhododendrons except the Vireyas. The Loderi are perfectly hardy in the south of England.
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Thanks John and Ralph
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David
Here is a picture of Tinkerbird in full flower. Highly recommended. I think this plant is 5 years old. The Loderi KG V is about 20 years old and 10 feet high. I bought Alison Johnstone (a hybrid cinnabarinum) two years ago and is showing well. My remaining Augustinii exbury has also flowered well .
I was at Arduaine garden a week ago in beautiful sunny Spring weather just in time to see and smell the scented varieties. Well worth the rather long journey. I had an interesting talk with the gardener about Augustinii's. He said that they had to be careful with them as the stems were very brittle and snapped easily. This confirmed the disaster I had with one of mine. Instead of bending when I attempted to straighten it up, it snapped at base level. I could have done with that information prior !
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Thanks very much for the information Tom.
Having made a list of everything I've found attractive on these pages (list now much longer than pockets!) it looks as though a trip to Burncoose is inevitable as they seem to have perhaps the best availability in this area. http://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/index.cfm (http://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/index.cfm)
Although my soil is fairly neutral I don't think I have the space in the garden for Rhodies so it will be pots for me. Having said that I do have one ericaceous bed I made about 15 years ago with Rhododendrons and Azaleas and is now pretty congested so that should produce some 'in the soil' space. Blue Tit, or maybe it's Blue Diamond, that has flowered wonderfully well for years is pretty poor this year so it's time has come.
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A few from my garden on a rainy day!
Rhododendron, possibly 'Scarlet Wonder', almost finished after several weeks in flower.
[attachimg=1]
A seedling of unknown parentage. I got several seeds from a friend years ago. All the seedlings were almost similar so I gave away a lot.
[attachimg=2]
Rh. cinnabarinum ssp. xanthocodon
[attachimg=3]
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Also an unknown seedling. I got it at the Arboretum at Milde, Bergen, where a lot of seedlings are removed from the woods and paths.
[attachimg=1]
Rh 'Karin' is always flowering nicely.
[attachimg=2]
Rh. yunnanense
[attachimg=3]
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Lovely stuff Trond.
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In flower to day
Midnight Magic x rex
28 + flowers in the truss 20 cm in Ø
single flower 8 cm Ø
rex is a very good father in many crosses
jens
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News and some photos from Pam Hayward, via JohnW, about the Rhododendron and Camellia Group from Chelsea....
" ......You will be thrilled to hear that the Group has won a Silver-Gilt Medal at the Chelsea Flower Show! This is an amazing achievement and reflects all the hard work put in by Sally Hayward and David Millais to plan the exhibit, and the combined efforts of Sally, David & Andy and Jenny Fly to build the stand and lay out the plants so carefully. We are also indebted to the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh who have entrusted us with some of their most precious vireyas for the duration of the show.
Her Majesty the Queen visited the exhibit yesterday afternoon and was presented with a bouquet of rhododendrons which she can be seen with on the cover of today's Daily Telegraph and Daily Express. What better endorsement for a 'rhododendron revival' could we ask for!
Thanks to all who have played a part in this, not forgetting the Top 100 participants! The Rhododendron yakushimanum image kindly supplied to us by Jennifer Lu is attracting a great deal of attention and having the 'real thing' forming part of the scene is truly inspired. The Queen instantly recognised our favourite rhododendron and spent some time talking to Sally about it.
The BBC are filming at the stand later today.....
In addition our three associated stands: Burncoose Nurseries, Hillier's and Millais Nurseries all won Gold medals, so congratulations to them too! "
Excellent news all round, eh?
(A few images are attached which have been reduced to fit!)
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
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Rhododendron oreotrephes
Deciduous azaleas coming into flower
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It seems to be a good year for the Rhododendrons.
Rhododendron rigidum, from Jamie Taggart.
R. 'Arctic Tern'
A lost label yellow - any offers as to ID?*
R. 'Karen Triplett'
A general view.
* It's probably R. 'Buttermint'. No it's not - it's one of the Knaphill Azaleas.
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Some from my garden.
Arctic tern
Egret
Maruschka
impeditum
Reuters Purple
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And some more
Graziella
Dara Amateis
Glendoick Maroon
Metallica
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Wombat hedge 40 cm high
trimmed with a el hedge trimmer
jens
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I would never have guessed 'Wombat' would have worked so well. You never know until the Danes show you. What a great idea.
john
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Graham - Some very nice ones there. I'm surprised there in Bo'ness your rhodo are blooming at the same time as here in Nova Scotia, 'Dora Amateis' is just finishing here.
john
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'Wombat' hedge - exciting enough - but trimmed with electric trimmers- Well, what can I say? Wow!!!
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'Wombat' hedge - exciting enough - but trimmed with electric trimmers- Well, what can I say? Wow!!!
yes, but it would never keep out (or in) a real wombat!
;D
cheers
fermi
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When I started to get interested in Rhods. about 50 years ago, I bought a PAN book on the subject. It also detailed all the Kurume azaleas. What surprised me was that , in Japan, the flowers were thought of as "too vulgar" and hedges were made of the plants but clipped-like box hedges-for the foliage effect !
I am glad to see that someone has the sense to use it as flowering hedge. I thought I would like to try it but the cost AND the time to make a reasonable sized hedge put that out of my mind.
I posted at 13:20 and it is shown as 13:33 on the post here. Why this ? Did I fall asleep at the computer? At my age I cannot afford to lose 13 minutes every time I post !
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test 13.57 on pc 2.09 on forum
Goodness knows, Tom - I've noticed a discrepancy lately on the timings - try not to fret about it!
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Great Rhodo's everybody... ! 8)
Here's some from me.
Rhododendron yakushimanum in three stages, make your pick at when you like it best.
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Some more :
Rhododendron kiusianum hardly 25 cm high.
One with a lost label :(
Rhododendron hedge
Rhododendron sargentianum - shy flowering so far.
Rhododendron x yakushimanum 'Percy Wiseman'
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Wonderful show Luc. And a few from here:
Rhododendron sargentianum 'Whitebait', in flower here as well.
A rather unique seedling at a friend's, I can't say I've ever seen a green-centred elepidote before.
R. 'Vinecrest' developed in Ontario but much preferring the cool summers here, flowers like this every year w/o dead-heading but the yellow is difficult to capture on film. Not the best colour combination with the lepidote 'Manitou'.
john
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Does anyone know of a source of Rhododendron tomentosum and Rhododendron groenlandicum in the UK/EEC?
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This week along the Atlantic coast every ditch, bog, edge of woodland and roadside is covered in Rhodora in flower. As you land at the aiport you do so over bogs ablaze with it as well. Rhododendron canadense.
john - +16c & sunny
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This week along the Atlantic coast every ditch, bog, edge of woodland and roadside is covered in Rhodora in flower. As you land at the aiport you do so over bogs ablaze with it as well. Rhododendron canadense.
john - +16c & sunny
Very nice!
I once tried one in my garden but it died from unknown resons :(
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Scores of rhododendrons are still alive though and in flower.
Here are 3
[attachimg=1][attachimg=2][attachimg=3]
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Does anyone know of a source of Rhododendron tomentosum and Rhododendron groenlandicum in the UK/EEC?
Try Glendoick or Ardfearn.
john
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Very nice! I once tried one in my garden but it died from unknown resons :(
To move them here we dig, re-plant and then immediately cut them back to about 7-10cm from the ground.
john
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Not easy to dig them here! They are rarely offered in nurseries so I have to import from abroad. Maybe seed is an option.
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Trond - If you remind me in late September I can send seed of the white and coloured. They grow very quickly.
john
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Very impressive, John ! :o
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Trond - If you remind me in late September I can send seed of the white and coloured. They grow very quickly.
john
Thanks John. I'll write it down in tha calendar!
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A lost label Rhododendron. Trouble is it has been in a congested bed and all the flowers and leaves are at the very top of the quite bare and straggley stems. After flowering has finished the bed will be sorted but this Rhododendron was a present from Maureen's late Mum and we want to keep it. What would be the best method of treating the plant please?
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All so beautiful!!!
and John - I would schedule a visit to the east coast just to catch the R. canadense in flower!
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AArgh! Wrote long reply to David and it has disappeared. Drat. Will try to remember what I wrote and try again!
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A lost label Rhododendron. Trouble is it has been in a congested bed and all the flowers and leaves are at the very top of the quite bare and straggley stems. After flowering has finished the bed will be sorted but this Rhododendron was a present from Maureen's late Mum and we want to keep it. What would be the best method of treating the plant please?
Pretty flowers, David - tho' I don't know what it might be.
Most rhodos are very obliging in their willingness to regrow when cut back - but some are not - so for a precious plant like this it is wise to take a cautious approach.
Cut back, to around 20cms from the ground, a couple of the branches that are most spoiling the shape. Be careful not to cut below any graft that the plant may have - but 20cms should be high enough to avoid that problem.
In a few weeks, couple of months anyway, you should see the start of new growth from dormant buds on the stumps. Depending how vigorous that growth looks to be, you might feel brave enough to cut back a few more stems at that time.
If you have a straggly or oversized plant that you are not terribly worried about then you could cut it all back at once. I wouldn't, on a precious plant, cut it all back at once even if new growth does seem to be breaking well. Leaving some stems with top growth can help to pull sap up the plant to encourage the dormant buds to break, I think - but - leaving too much if buds are breaking well might mean there is less "incentive" for the new growths to expand.
A plant cut back in this way can either be left in situ - where you will be able to manage it in future within bounds of shape and size by judicious pruning - or make it easier to lift and move to a new position where it can regrow without restriction. I'd get it growing well after cutting back before I tried moving it though - no point in abusing the poor thing more than is absolutely necessary!
Hope this helps!
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What a lovely cool spring it is here, the rhodos are lasting forever. Hard to believe the last few R, thomsonii flowers dropped yesterday as they've been out since mid-April. Temps on the coast here are 12c and the same for tomorrow, a tad dry; north of here low-lying spots inland had a touch of frost Wednesday night!
Rhododendron 'Charme-La'
Rhododendron 'Teddy Bear'
Rhododendron 'Bridal Bouquet'
Rhododendron maculiferum
Rhododendron 'Sundust'
john
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Pretty flowers, David - tho' I don't know what it might be.
Most rhodos are very obliging in their willingness to regrow when cut back - but some are not - so for a precious plant like this it is wise to take a cautious approach.
Cut back, to around 20cms from the ground, a couple of the branches that are most spoiling the shape. Be careful not to cut below any graft that the plant may have - but 20cms should be high enough to avoid that problem.
In a few weeks, couple of months anyway, you should see the start of new growth from dormant buds on the stumps. Depending how vigorous that growth looks to be, you might feel brave enough to cut back a few more stems at that time.
If you have a straggly or oversized plant that you are not terribly worried about then you could cut it all back at once. I wouldn't, on a precious plant, cut it all back at once even if new growth does seem to be breaking well. Leaving some stems with top growth can help to pull sap up the plant to encourage the dormant buds to break, I think - but - leaving too much if buds are breaking well might mean there is less "incentive" for the new growths to expand.
A plant cut back in this way can either be left in situ - where you will be able to manage it in future within bounds of shape and size by judicious pruning - or make it easier to lift and move to a new position where it can regrow without restriction. I'd get it growing well after cutting back before I tried moving it though - no point in abusing the poor thing more than is absolutely necessary!
Hope this helps!
Cheers for that Maggi, very useful, we'll give that a try.
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Rhododendrons for new growth & flowers today:
1-2 Rhododendron phaeochrysum var. phaeochrysum Jesper / Nielsen
3 Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum x R. proteoides
4-5 Rhododendron trichostomum Birck selection
john - +13c & finally sunny after 2:30pm
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I missed most of the Rhododendron (Azalea) season this year. A few of the late bloomers.
[attachimg=1]
One of a number of Rhododendron cumberlandense in our Sacramento garden. Most of the trusses are past their prime, however a few are still looking good.
[attachimg=2]
This plant is labeled as Rhododendron ungernii. It may well be, however I need to take the time to give it a good look over to make sure. Whatever the name, the late blooming white flowers are very heat tolerant and look great. The foliage is excellent too with some nice indumentum (this in itself is very indicative of R. ungernii as well as the late bloom period.)
[attachimg=3]
Rhododendron christianae
The "Vireya" type Rhododendrons are doing very well this year. Sorry I missed photographs of some of the others.
I also missed photographs of Rhododendron eastmanii. The form in our garden has pure white flowers and an intoxication fragrance. It is a late bloomer (just finished). Warm weather in the garden spreads its fragrance all the more. For our hot climate it is near the top of the list of "must save, must keepers". I have other forms that are also white, but with some amounts of rose-pink too.
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Last night we had a great potluck dinner with friends and a pre-meal walkabout through their garden, Rockburn. The native skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus, has finally settled in along the brook. Damn chilly & foggy it was, typical Halifax weather in May, June and sometimes July.
john
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The show carries on into June here: R. 'Buttermint', R. camtschaticum, R. occidentale.
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In flower at moment 1-4 Rhododendron trichostomum v. ledoides, Glendoick's deep pink form a real cracker.
5. R. kiusianum Hancock-Steele, a very slow growing one nearly 40 years old.
johnw
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Friend Sheila and I drove up to the Kentville Research Station's display gardens in the Annapolis Valley last Friday. KRS started developing rhodos suited to the climates of Atlantic Canada back in the early 1950's and they wound up in the mid 80's. The rhodos are getting big, Sheila in front of a grex of fortuinei x smirnowii just going over, of this lot 'Bellefontaine' was the best. Good to see youngsters on an outing at the gardens.
johnw
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Felt I had to share these photos of the utterly charming Rhododendron lowndesii growing so well in the Belgian garden of Luc Gilgemyn - from its size beside a Shortia you can see how diminutive this little rhododendron is!
[attachimg=1][attachimg=2][attachimg=3]
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;D You beat me to posting it, Maggi ! ;D No worries ! It does quite well in it's peatbed in the shade.
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Seeing it looking so lovely in your garden made me so excited I couldn't contain myself , Luc! You are such a good grower.
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Seeing it looking so lovely in your garden made me so excited I couldn't contain myself , Luc! You are such a good grower.
:-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-* ;)
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Felt I had to share these photos of the utterly charming Rhododendron lowndesii growing so well in the Belgian garden of Luc Gilgemyn - from its size beside a Shortia you can see how diminutive this little rhododendron is!
(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)
Dear me, I will be wringing my hands till Christmas over that lowndesii. Jens Birck may very well join me. :o :o :o
john
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Dear me, I will be wringing my hands till Christmas over that lowndesii. Jens Birck may very well join me. :o :o :o
john
See Luc, I told you so!
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Luc - You must try R. ludlowii so we can all see a well-grown live one for once in our lives....
john
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Oops too much praise for me people, I guess I was just lucky picking out that particular spot to plant it - and so far no real hot, dry summers since I planted it, I don't think it would appreciate that. Must say I water the peatbed every single night whenever there's a dry warm period.
Luc - You must try R. ludlowii so we can all see a well-grown live one for once in our lives....
john
Would love to give it a try if I find one, John !
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A superbly grown lowndesii Luc!!!
I got ludlowii from Glendoick last year. It is listed as still available (Hecc 10050 collection). It can be ordered now for an Autumn delivery. ;)
https://www.glendoick.com/shop/rhododendron/rhododendron-dwarf-species/ludlowii-hecc-10050.html (https://www.glendoick.com/shop/rhododendron/rhododendron-dwarf-species/ludlowii-hecc-10050.html)
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Where else you can see something like this, than in this forum??!!! - and the lucky ones in Luc's garden :)
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Steve
If Glendoick's is indeed the 2nd collection of ludlowii then it would surely be the one Cox collected in Arunachal Pradesh. Peter Cox sent me seed and I managed to get 2 to an inch high. I was worried about the provence but indeed it was easier to grow than others, until a big wet maple leaf landed on them in autumn and unnoticed they rotted through the winter. Worth a try there Luc.
john
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"Menziesia ciliicalyx hybrid" from Barry Starling seed. Planted last summer at a neighbour's this one is rather nice with its blue foliage. Darned if I can remember its new name as a Rhododendron, I guess R. hybrid would do for now.
john
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Darned if I can remember its new name as a Rhododendron, I guess R. hybrid would do for now.
john
Your guess is as good as any! Still many Menziesia listed as such by Kew Plant list - others as synonyns for Phyllodoce etc..... confused? Anyone would be!
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How nice today to have the VRV (Flemish Rock Garden Club) journal arrive today and find not only a fine close-up of Rhododendron lowndesii from Luc on the cover but an article from him on dwarf rhodos too. 8)
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How nice today to have the VRV (Flemish Rock Garden Club) journal arrive today and find not only a fine close-up of Rhododendron lowndesii from Luc on the cover but an article from him on dwarf rhodos too. 8)
Pure coïncidence Maggi ! ;D ;)
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Luc & Steve - My towering 3 year old ludlowii from seed of Keith Rushforth's collection Rhododendron ludlowii KR#10530 via the 2013 RHS RCM Group seedex. I've written to him for some collection data.
That's a 1.7cm wide Canadian 10 cent piece for scale.
johnw
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The new shoots of Rhododendron tsariense today.
johnw
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Very nice John. R. titapuriense has good indumentum too.
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Luc & Steve - My towering 3 year old ludlowii from seed of Keith Rushforth's collection Rhododendron ludlowii KR#10530 via the 2013 RHS RCM Group seedex. I've written to him for some collection data.
That's a 1.7cm wide Canadian 10 cent piece for scale.
johnw
At least you don't need to worry about pruning in the next weeks... ;D
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Luc - I'll start pruning when it gets to the top of the fence. ;)
Ashley - What a species! I think it's out of the question for these parts given its habitat.
john
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Very nice John. R. titapuriense has good indumentum too.
Sure does. Has it flowered yet? What colour?
Link to K. Cox description HERE (http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A7x9Uniu.GdXR08AVFJ3Bwx.;_ylu=X3oDMTByaDVva2FxBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMwRjb2xvA2lyMgR2dGlkAw--/RV=2/RE=1466460463/RO=10/RU=http%3a%2f%2fwww.glendoick.com%2ffiles%2fR.%2520titapuriense%2520description%2520by%2520Kenneth%2520Cox%2c%2520Plantsman%25202013.pdf/RK=0/RS=s6_q62exjawLFX7BTbGwcdWQdTM-)
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No Maggie it's probably a year or two off flowering size yet.
Flowers should be white (if we don't have a terrible winter before then).
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A shortcut through the Halifax Public Gardens on the way to the grocery store this afternoon. The Waterer ironclads from an 1897 shipment are doing their usual. I believe the gates were cast in Glasgow.
johnw
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As it's at it's peak now, I thought some people might like another glance at Rhododendron lowndesii.
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Cracking wee plant Broer!
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As it's at it's peak now, I thought some people might like another glance at Rhododendron lowndesii.
Such tiny rhodos are beyond lovely!
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A delayed posting from the garden open day and plant sale on the 29th May last. I think the highlight for Cindy was a pair of earrings bought at the craft fair. At one time they would sell Rhododendrons from some of the Argyll gardens but that had to stop for fear of transmitting the phytophthora ramorum fungus.
I have to admit that the 500 foot climb up stepped paths and rough ground is now more than I can do comfortably. The weight of a DSLR plus lenses adds to the problem. It's amazing how old age catches up. Anyway, for what it's worth here are the pictures....no names as usual.
The five first pictures were taken on the flat before the hill paths and include a planting of Yakushimanum hybrids
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The next lots contain various picture continuing the Yak. theme.
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This lot are hybrids of caloxanthum x griersonianum. The labels show the plants were planted in 1956.
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Included is an impressive arboreum and a picture of the shelter in the Chilean glade. My knees were burning at this point !
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Now moving into the cinnabarinums
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More cinnabarinums
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continued
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continued
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continued
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Around the pond after the Himalayan descent !
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Last two.
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Gorgeous , Tom! Well done for coping with the climb - rather you than me, frankly! I see that you are , as ever, a real pushover for a cinnabarinum!!
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Great pictures, Tom. Where was this? Benmore?
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My fault. I thought that I had posted it under Benmore. I have now discovered another series taken on 20 April which had escaped my attention.
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Lovely set of pics Tom.
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Lovely set of pics Tom.
Yes I agree 8)
Angie :)
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Last of my Rhodies to flower
Rhododendron 'Lava Flow'
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Great tour Tom thanks.
A couple of late rhodos on the coast here:
Rhododendron ferrugineum
Rhododendron hirsutum or 'Montafon'
john
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John
It's interesting to see the flowering times between our two countries. They seem to be about the same time although we are 10° farther N. than you.
I took a couple of the pictures 10 minutes ago at 20:00. The lepidostylum has been in flower for about two weeks and the hirsutum Flore-pleno started about 10 days ago.
That's the season all but finished although it's satisfying to watch the new growth appearing from earlier flowering varieties.
Some pictures of what is in flower and what was in flower from early June
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Some more earlier pictures
Crosswater Belle is a cinnabarinum hybrid raised at Milais nursery.
Picotee is another hybrid.
The Yak. is about 45 years old and is suffering a bit from too much shade as it is leaning out from the garage wall.
Winsome was bought a couple of years ago and is growing much larger than anticipated.
The back garden shot was taken from the gate at the gable end of the house.
Fabia surprises me by the pale green leaves but it looks exactly the same in Culzean some 12 miles farther South
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Tom - re: synchronized flowering
I was thinking the same thing but were you not a tad late this year? We were a bit early as March was not as frigid as usual. In any event by June we always seem to be neck and neck.
The very late evergreen azaleas, deciduous azaleas and mountain laurels are still to come here.
john
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John
By and large we were about 3 weeks later than average, however, in late May, we had a period of about 4 weeks of warm weather when things seemed to move overnight. This happened on the West coast although the East seemed to have heavy rain and cold weather. Historically, I remember back in the mid 1960's our flowering times were much later.
The flowering time for the cinnabarinums were about the beginning of June, now it is early May. We never bothered going to Benmore until May for the main flowering, now we start in March.
If I lived closer, I would go weekly.
A problem I face - apart from lack of space - is having a period of dormancy for the plants. Last year I had many Rhododendrons flowering again in late October into November. There was no real drop in temperature for a period of time. The result was new growth ready to be chopped in Spring. Years ago I had to get rid of praecox as it always tried to flower in late January and ended up blasted by February frosts.
Looking at the parks and gardens locally, we must be 6 weeks ahead with the azaleas. Our visit to Bargany on the 30 May saw the azaleas in full bloom and they had opened up in the "heatwave" of regular 23°c temperatures about 10 days previously.
I live about 2 miles from the coast at 130 feet above sea level. The gardens a few miles from me, on the coast, flower about 5/6 days earlier. I can just about grow edgeworthii and some of the scented varieties out doors - Winter dependent.
°°
Another member of our group lives 9 miles from the sea at an altitude of 450 feet and can be decimated by frosts. When I had -1°c, he had -12°c ! So a short distance can create huge temp. variations and corresponding flowering times. By and large, the 3 weeks later refers to the West. Our friends in the N. and East may well be different.
For such a small country as the UK, we have a huge variety of weather and nothing is ever certain.
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Tom - I just checked the flowering dates on my pix for R. cinnabarinum in southern Nova Scotia, June 1, June 5 and June 16th.
The only change I have noticed over the years is that R. kiusianum seems to flower somewhat later and the next group of evergreen azaleas to flower are flowering somewhat earlier and over-lapping the kiusianums.
Thanks for the insights.
john
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Last to flower here in my garden.
didymum DEGY 43
more flowers in the truss than Rock 44
jens
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Last to flower - but very good flowerbudset for later
Here pronum Kilbryde with 30+ of wich 10 are shown here
jens
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Nicely grown Jens!!!
My pronum has some die-back around the periphery -any suggestions as to how to deal with it?
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The R. ponticum types are still flowering in Scotland.
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Rhododendron discolor with a fragrance of Epigaea & spearmint - photos - is still in flower here. The late deciduous and evergreen azaleas are just starting up. Even the Meconopsis are still flowering in the chilly weather.
johnw - raining & +13c.
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The "penult" evergreen azalea to flower, R. 'Marilee' is one of the North Tisbury azaleas. 61cm h. x 200cm. w.
johnw - 18.8c / 95% humidity.
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Hej Steve
My pronum grow happily in pure peat together with Lewisia tweedyi
Had to remove 1/3 of the plant growing into the lawn,
was send to Hachmann nurs. as scions.
jens
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Hej Steve
My pronum grow happily in pure peat together with Lewisia tweedyi
Had to remove 1/3 of the plant growing into the lawn,
was send to Hachmann nurs. as scions.
jens
Thanks Jens.
My plant has excellent drainage -perhaps too good. Could the die-back be due to episodes of dryness of the rootball (all the dieback is on the periphery of the plant)?
Would top-dressing with pure peat help?
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Pure peat mavbe
Here a 12 yrs old photo
as You can see tweedyi is long lived too!
jens
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Just to show how nicely roxieanum can be grown
at Nivågård park, Denmark
jens
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How clever to grow them on that berm, certainly assures A1 drainage and keeps the tanks at bay.
john
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I've seen rhodos grown in that way on Speyside and the poor things were suffering dreadfully.
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Rhododendron calostrotum 'Gigha' is flowering again.
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Shocking! The first bud on proteoides x pronum after a mere 18 years. I'd have expected one in about 25 years.
johnw
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Shocking! The first bud on proteoides x pronum after a mere 18 years. I'd have expected one in about 25 years.
johnw
Well, although this was very quick I am not sure I will plant one. If I have to wait even as short time as 18 years I have probably forgotten what I am waiting for ;D
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I look wistfully at my proteoides Ascreavie vainly waiting on flower buds. If it takes 20+years to flower I will be due my telegram from the Queen before it flowers! Probably it is something to plant for your grandchildren.
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In the wild they are willing to flower
A + B are from Yunnan 4100 meter
C cw Svend Hansen 99-35 . seedling that flower after 14 years ;)
D But dont despair , the new foliage is better than some flowers.
jens
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Wow, proteoides 99-35 has a superb flower and worth the wait. Svend must be very happy with that one.
johnw
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I discovered suddenly that Rh. campylogynum Crem Bodnant Red was in flower!
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
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I've always had the feeling 'Bodnant Red' was a hybrid. I wonder what Jens thinks?
johnw
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Yes John maybe , was there a baileyi close by.
jens
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I have no idea Jens. I assume it came from Bodnant a long time ago so the chances of baileyi being about is high. Davidian calls it cremastum and an AM given to BR when shown by WGP in 1972. He says from 3355m; Forrest collected it in 1917 NW Yunnan and KW collected it in 1931 in NE Burma. Also known as cremastum v. rubrum, to 2m high! So hard to tell if BR's origin is cw or seed-grown from a cw later at Bodnant.
R. baileyi makes perfect sense.
john
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Regardless of its origin Bodnant Red is a plant with very nice flowers. It was a surprise that it flowered now.
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Maggi seems justb a tad tempted by seed of the dwarf deciduous Rhododendron mucronulatum 'Cheju', now correctly called R. mucronulatum v. taquettii. I will send seed to the Seedex, while it is open-pollinated a good percentage will come true, the rest will be mucronulatum of various colours and sizes. 'Cheju'-like dwarves can be easily be id'ed and pricked out at 8-12 weeks.
It self-sows all round the garden here - in troughs, peat blocks, edges of beds and even in railroad tie cracks. The autumn colour is breath-taking. It should be placed in the rock garden where the disproprtionately thick golden trunk can be appreciated.
Lesley can attest to this dwarf's beauty.
Here a trough volunteer.
johnw
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Indeed what a great fall colour! I should make a note for the seedex...
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I thought so and Jens Birck agrees, I have a flower bud on R. proteoides. It's the first bud since a 2-3 year old seedling flowered in 2008 to Mme. Young's utter disbelief.
johnw 12c in a gale at the moment.
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If it's taken so long to flower again, it seems I wasn't the only one in shock!!
Next year dozens of flowers, eh??
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A different plant, this one is 25+ years old, I hold no hope of buds for another 25.
john
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The extraordinary exfoliating bark of Rhododendron nuttallii, this one could be a hybrid but I suspect it's pure nuttallii.
johnw