Specific Families and Genera > Rhododendron and other Ericaceae

lowndesii

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johnw:
I wonder if anyone is growing R. lowndesii in the UK.  I have only seen it in the garden of June Sinclair, Port Ludlow, Washington State on this side of the Atlantic (or should that be the Pacific?). Her plant was about 2 feet wide by 2 inches high growing in a bark mound where a tree had been felled, the spot rather dampish. There it looks like a camtschaticum on a dietand as delicate and fine as redowskianum before demise.

I find it impossible to grow from seed, the seedlings last a few months and them peter out.  I grew them at  about 5-10c. If I had a plant my inclination would be to grow it like camtschaticum with more grit in the mix. We see photos of it in the wild growing from the rock crevices, it could easily get cooked in the summer here with one hot day. Anyone on their successes or failures?

Is there a source in the UK? I have heard Ron MacBeath sells it or at least has it though it nevers shows up on his website list.

johnw - where the weather has hardly improved but the wind is slowly abating.   

Lesley Cox:
What is your seed source John? Is it the June Sinclair whom you mention and if so could she be encouraged to send seed to SRGS or AGS seed lists? Or could anyone else? It's one of those "holy grail" plants to me, and I'd love a chance to try it from seed. No hope of anything else here. I had a tiny plant way back in the 60s, imported, if I remember correctly fron Reuthe's in Kent but it was the first of several species to die, lack of knowledge and experience at that stage being the culprit. Now, I have LOADS of knowledge and experience when it comes to killing plants.  :)

ian mcenery:
Yes it is a lovely plant when properly grown and that's the rub. I still have a bit of this plant which I bought from Cox eons ago which came with the instructions to cover with a cloche to protect in the winter. I just checked and hidden under a small plant of Curlew it still lives but it is a miserable specimen although there may be flower buds.

In spite of attempts to root cuttings and grow on a new plant I have failed miserably. I have also bought a replacement from Aberconwy Nursery who sometimes have this (lovely plants by the way) but have only succeeded in killing this. Lovely though it is it may be that this is a plant for pot culture and that is not for me  :-[

johnw:
Leslie - The seed I grew indeed came from June.  I think it was even offered one year in the ARS Seed Exchange.  I will call June this weekend and ask her to send some op seed as I don't think there is much of a chance of it crossing with anything else in the vicinity. Send me a note in August as a reminder and I will try to send you a pinch.

The last time I was at June's she told me it had just been moved and it was looking a tad frail.  I just hope she hasn't lost it.

I have to confess I did have a very tiny piece of her plant, given to me by a friend in BC who successfully propagated a piece from June.  his is gone and so has mine. I grew mine rather well in a gritty Primula trough although it was less than an inch across, I think the Primulas kept excess moisture to a minimum. However I kept it in a cold greenhouse for the winter, on the floor and absentmindedly let it dry out.

Ian - thanks for your information. We'd love to see a photo of it in flower if you have buds! Were the Reuthe plants small enough to have a friend ship to Canada?

There are several delicious photos of very healthy plants in the wild.

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/asianflora2/Ericaceae/Rhododendron-lowndesii.htm

I suppose Wagtail is possible substitute for the desparate but I understand Glendoick is not propagating it anymore. I does reasonably well here without the leaf spotting (or was it rust) they report. It would be interesting to cross lowndesii with ludlowii to make a thoroughly difficult to grow hybrid.

johnw

ian mcenery:
John I have bought Ludlowii (can't help being an optimist) from Cox this year and hope to keep it. I do think the species nearly all have that certain quality of flower and elagance not always there with hybrids.  Anyway it is a good quality plant now and may be easier than Lowdesii which has been planning to die for over 25 years. It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has seen Lowdesii in the wild as it would be interesting to hear about its exact habitat etc.

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