Specific Families and Genera > Rhododendron and other Ericaceae

Rhododendron - March 2008

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Maggi Young:
It is a slow start to the rhodo season here in Aberdeen. We have got good flowering on the hybrid 'Cilpinense', which I showed just coming into flower in the "chilly" thread and I have managed to miss taking a photo of R. dauricum, which is over now  :-[   Elsewhere in Aberdeen gardens there are good bushes of old red hybrids, with R. barbatum blood and fine shows from R. praecox and the variety 'Tessa' .... here in our own garden however, the flowers are few. There are one or two early flowers on R. hippophaioides, a plant which will not flower too well this year, even later next month when it is "supposed" to flower.... it has done exceptionally well in the last two years and so I do not grudge it a year off!
Rhododendron elegantulum, a plant which obligingly puts out flowers at all sorts of odd times throughout the year to  surprise us, is starting into its main spring display with the opening of rich pink buds, fading to a sweet blush pink.
Rhododendron thompsonii  collected by Ron McBeath, tends to suffer from the fierce winds we usually get a s its flowers are opening, resulting in that interesting phenomenon, "Hedgeius privetus rhododrendriflora" ;) as all the large, blood red flowers get blown into the privet hedge behind the plant. I though it wise to take this flower indoors to show you . :-X
On the smaller end of the scale are the charming hybrid, R. 'Ptarmigan' with its clusters of white flowers, this is another plant which is obliging with its gift of extra flowers in the late summer.
The smallest offering today is from R. lapponicum parviflorum, Japanese form.

A couple of shots of all four together, to give you an idea of relative scale.

Lvandelft:
Maggi, that's nice seeing you coming out of the (BD) shade with your favourite plants.  ;)
I remember having Ptarmigan many years in our retail list, because I wanted many people should have this in their gardens.

Maggi Young:
Thank you , Luit  ;)
I agree that R. ' Ptarmigan ' is an excellent garden plant. For those who do not know it, this is a hybrid, made by Peter Cox of Glendoick between R. microleucum and R. leucapsis.  The flowers are a good size in relation to the foliage and the plant makes about 70cms across by 35cms high in 20 years, so it will fit into most gardens...even the small gardens of modern houses!  8)

David Nicholson:
I love Rhododendron time. Lovely shots Maggi.

johnw:

--- Quote from: Maggi Young on March 17, 2008, 02:47:31 PM ---Rhododendron thompsonii  collected by Ron McBeath,
--- End quote ---

Maggi - Can you tell us more about the history of this McBeath collection and whether or not is hardier than other thomsoniis?

I particlaurly like the forms with a green calyx.

I grow the Ludlow & Sherriff #2847 and it is surprisingly hardy. It promises almost 20 buds this year at 2.7 meters high, slow but worth the wait.  It usually blooms in late April or early March so you are far ahead of us, but so is most of the civilized world.

johnw

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