Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Specific Families and Genera => Rhododendron and other Ericaceae => Topic started by: Thorkild Godsk on January 19, 2015, 02:59:26 PM
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Rhododendron.
Does anyone know the name of this Rhododendron, it is 3 meters high, blooms in May, it might be Rhododendron concinnum?
Thorkild.
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Does not have the look of R. concinnum to me - more like a Rhododendron catawbiense with those full trusses and domed leaves.
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Maggi's quite right. Concinnum is a lepidote and your pic shows an elepidote. Likely catawbiense or even one of the pink Ironclads from Waterers. Johnw - +7c and drizzle
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Rh. sutchuenense soon in full bloom!
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Glendoick Gardens open soon -
Our gardens are beginning to burst into flower.
Here are some photos taken today.
Open to everyone as of 1st April, 10am-4pm.
£5 for adults; school children free; no dogs.
Tickets available at the garden centre.
Gardens 1/2 a mile behind the garden centre; parking up by the house.
Gardens are open every day in April and May.
Peak time mid April to mid May.
http://www.glendoick.com/ (http://www.glendoick.com/)
Also a FREE DAY : "We are joining with the Royal Horticultural Society to celebrate National Open Gardens Day on Friday 17th April with free entrance to our gardens (usually £5).
Open 10-4pm, Glendoick boasts a unique collection of plants including rhododendrons, azaleas, Primula, Meconopsis, Kalmia and Sorbus, collected by three generations of Coxes from their plant-hunting expeditions in China, Tasmania, Tibet and the Himalaya.
Included in the Independent on Sunday’s exclusive survey of Europe’s Top 50 Gardens, you will be able to see many of the Rhododendron and Azalea species and hybrids that have been introduced from the wild or bred by the Cox family.
Tickets to be collected at the garden centre before going up the drive. Parking by the house."
[attachimg=1]
Another "Glendoick " related event - news of a photography event with Ray Cox :
"We thought you might be interested to know that Ray Cox is running a 2 day workshop this spring on Garden & Outdoor Photography at a lovely garden in central Scotland which open under Scotland's Gardens:
Weds 20th - Thurs 21st May
Rowberrow, 18 Castle Road, Dollar FK14 7BE
For Details & Bookings please visit the News page on our website: www.rcoxgardenphotos.co.uk (http://www.rcoxgardenphotos.co.uk)
OR contact us:
Email: ray@rcoxgardenphotos.co.uk
Mobile: 07762 067 255
Please note that places are limited and on a first-come-first-served basis.
Regards
Penny Cox "
pp Ray Cox Photography
Ray Cox Photography
07762 067 255
www.rcoxgardenphotos.co.uk (http://www.rcoxgardenphotos.co.uk)
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This Rhodo. is sick. It appears to be suffering from drought but is not. Could it be fungus attack, such as honey fungus?
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Ian - Sorry to say not sick but dead. I can't say which diseases are common where you are but here I'd diagnose that as Phytophthora cinnamoni off the top. Whatever don't use that spot for replanting.
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And while I'm not a fan of garden bonfires I would be inclined to light one for this dead body.
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The Rhodo. is sicker now. It,s in the bin. Bonfires are frowned upon in this area and I have no room to light one.
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During removal of the Rhodo. I noticed what looks like Mycelium under the bark. See attached. I have dosed the area with Jeyes fluid and will leave it for a year before re-planting. I hope that removal of the host plant will make the area safe.
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Rhododendron leucaspis
This plant is doing quite well on a south-facing raised bed protected from the north by a high wooden fence.
It is very popular with the early season Honey Bees!
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8696/16345368744_d72d542f2d_o.jpg)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/16760345997_f9848ebc78_o.jpg)
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Steve - Wonderful to see a leucaspis in flower and not one frosted flower!
johnw
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Can anyone recommend a Rhodo. suitable for a cold garden to replace the one I lost? I will not re-plant for a year. I,m looking for a plant which will not exceed about 4 feet in height and will provide interest to invertebrates (as a nectar source) such as the one shown by Steve.
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I would not plant a Rhododendron (or any other member of the Ericaceae family) on the spot where that sick Rhododendron was. Phytophtora stays in the ground for several years and can infect the new rhododendron.
Rhododendrons that do well in cold gardens and stay reasonably low are the majority of the yakushimanum cultivars.
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Rather than yak or its hybrids which will eventually get too wide even though some stay low I'd recommend a lepidote species or hybrid. However the caveat is this: if your dead rhodo had phythophthora the likely cause is heavy soil and subsoil, over-watering and/or the drainage is bad in that general area. If such is the case you will have to amend the soil heavily, raise the level and as GP says certainly not plant in the same spot.
Most if not all lepidotes one can prune at will to suit the spot and given enough sun will reward with multiple new shoots. Steve's leucaspis or one of the leucaspis hybrids might be a thought if you want early.....
johnw
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Rhododendron 'Snow Lady' (leucaspis x ciliatum). Lovely little lepidote hybrid.
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Rhododendron imperator KW6884
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7667/17090729152_19860c4a4e_o_d.jpg)
Rhododendron pumilum Kingdon Wards's Pink Baby
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8787/17090729832_23fbef74a9_o_d.jpg)
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Rhododendron mallotum DGEY406 on 25th March.
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Spring in Denmark 19 ° C today
Rhododendron recurvoides.
Thorkild DK
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Rhododendron megeratum
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7642/17148364182_883deb50c1_o.jpg)
This is the Bodnant form. The flowers are a strange rather dark mustard. Only about half the buds were open when I took this image -who knows what weather next weekend will bring!
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Rhododendron rubiginosum KR7536. Very floriferous.
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And a lovely colour that KR!
Here only Rhododendron veitchianum in flower in the greenhouse. A lovely though subtle fragrance.
Roots in water!
johnw
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If You want a recurvoides in your colection
be sure to get a flowering form
I have 4 diff forms , only one do flower a lot
the rest only 2 or 3 flwbuds or none.
birck (full spring here)http://www.srgc.net/forum/Smileys/classic/grin.gif
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Jens - that is what we call in Scots, a "stoater" - meaning a really showy plant!! 8)
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Jens - I have the "none" form of recurvoides, not a flower bud since 1990. Yours is quite fantastic. Is it a named one or with a source or a seedling of yours?
Have recurvoides x proteoides so I guess I should expect a doubly long wait..............
john
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Got it from Hydon nurs. and think they got it from Windsor/Valley garden (30 years ago)
birck
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Jens Birck is far too modest to post pictures of his new hybrid. A few years back Jens crossed the Canadian hybrid 'Charme La' with cinnabarinum 'Nepal'. Now the chance of such a cross taking is pretty remote as many lepidote hybrids are sterile or very reluctant to accept pollen from distant Subsections. But Mr. Birck is a persuasive fellow and got seed from that cross, we all though perhaps he would get a self. It was soon apparent from the leaves that the cross took, And so this morning Jens calmly emailed that hybrid flowered this am. It should certainly be much hardier than 'Nepal'. Notablyl the hybrid is shockingly like the pollen parent, a rarity in the world of rhodo hybridizing, indeed one would be quite happy to get something as good by selfing 'Nepal' itself. After the initial surprise it struck me how poignant that this beauty whose parentage - ('Charme La' x cinnabarinum 'Nepal') - involves two Nepalese references should flower today just as the plight of Nepal is so very much on our minds.
Photo #1 - pollen parent cinnabrinum 'Nepal'
Photo #2 - Jens' hybrid 'Charme La' x cinnabrinum 'Nepal'
johnw
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The new hybrid is delightful - and with the 'Charme La ' parent should be very hardy - 'Charme La' is, I'm told, R. carolinianum x R. pemakoense - and R. carolianum is a sturdy little plant.
I do hope this beautiful plant will be a symbol of better times to come for all those poor people in earthquake devastated Nepal.
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Rhododendron cinnabarinum
brevifom Sikkim.
sown from seed about 1992.
Thorkild DK.
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Rhododendron johnstoneanum.
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I had johnstoneanum once but it was killed in a very cold winter. Maybe I should try it once more?
Here are two also from Glendoick but I couldn't find the names.
The last ones needs perfect drainage so it is growing in the thick moss layer on a rock.
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Trond - The last one - the pink - could it be 'Plover'? Grown to perfection whatever it is, the foliage is smashing.
john
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I too think the little pink could be 'Plover' and the dark red looks to have dark foliage, so I'd guess either 'Elizabeth Lockhart' or perhaps, if obtained fairly recently, one of the newer Glendoick dark foliaged hybrids.
edit : could not remember what those hybrids are called - it's Rhododendron 'EVERRED' - but I think I'll stick with n.'Elizabeth Lockhart'
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Thanks Maggi and John. Plover is very possible. I remember I was thinking of trying dendrocharis but it is quite possible I chose a hybrid.
I am not sure of Elizabeth L, both the truss and the foliage are different. Have a look:
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Leaves are wrong for R. dendrocharis, Trond. It has tiny leaves with rounded ends.
I see what you mean about the red - not E.L then . :-\
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Calyx is small on the read - good indumentum - R. haematodes ?
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That sound likely.
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Rh. haematodes sounds relevant. Thanks Maggi!
And I agree - the pink is definitely not dendrocharis ;)
Whatever - I like it and the roe deer like it. They have munched away several tips with buds
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Flowers a tad small for haematodes?
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Do I have to delve into my lair to solve the mystery?
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I did a little delving - can it be Rh. piercei?
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Might be - I haven't grown it so I'm not sure what size the flowers are or what size of calyx that has - the leaves would fit the bill I think but not sure about their size either! We need Jens or John!
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My guees
sperabila var. sperabile
jens ::)
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Thanks , Jens - this photo of Rhod. sperabile is by the (late) George Smith, taken at Arduaine Garden in Argyll
[attachimg=1]
from an ARS journal of 1992 (http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JARS/v46n1/v46n1-smith.htm)
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I haven't been around these Neriiflora enough to have a feel for them. R. beanianum, sperabile and piercei I don't have a handle on; I'd guess any one of those and Jens would still be right!
john
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I had johnstoneanum once but it was killed in a very cold winter. Maybe I should try it once more?
Here are two also from Glendoick but I couldn't find the names.
The last ones needs perfect drainage so it is growing in the thick moss layer on a rock.
The bottom picture looks very much like Plover. If it has a scent then it most likely is. As it is an Edgeworthii cross it would need very good drainage.
I have had this Johnstoneanum for 5 years growing in a sheltered area between fencing and a trellis. It produced a few flowers the first year and to my disappointment, they were not scented. With some hard frosts the past few years, the buds were always blasted before opening. This year, there was a profusion of buds and the flowering was spectacular. The picture was taken before it fully flowered as the forecast was for frost, but it did not freeze here so I was a happy boy !
Also, my Cinnabarinum has produced flowers after a 7 year wait.
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Tom - As you know once they start there's no turning back. Jens emailed me a shot of his sensational cinnabarinum hybrid a couple of days ago, I hope it is in the UK by now. It even grows here.
'What A Dane' = (R. ambiguum x R. cinnabarinum Concatenans Group) x R. cinnabarinum ssp cinnabarinum 'Nepal' 25cm label required. No doubt ambiguum has given it the added cold hardiness.
johnw
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John
I got the Rhododendron bug seriously about 50 years ago but had to wait until I moved to Ayr in 1971 and a brand new garden. Having two young children, grass was a priority but I was allowed a small section for myself. I planted Lady Chamberlain, Concatenans, Roylii and Yakushimanum. The cinnabarinums grew and flowered well for 5 years and then they all experienced die-back and had to be removed. It was possibly powdery milldew which seemed to be sweeping the west coast at that time.
The Yak is still flowering but is getting a bit leggy now as it is being starved of light due to the Camellias.
About 7 years ago I planted a Xanthocodon and Lady Chamberlain in a special prepared site. Within a few years they were flowering well. The Xanthocodon flowered in early Spring and then again in November. Last year I noticed that one of the stems was dead and within a few weeks the leaves on the main stem curled up and fell off.
Lady Chamberain repeated this and also had to be removed. The Cinnabarinum - in a different site -produced loads of new growth each year but this year actually flowered on several stems....fingers crossed.
For the last few years I have been on a buying/planting spree keeping up the profits of Glendoick and the Tree shop on Loch Fyne. Most of the plants are most probably doomed outdoors....Edgeworthii, Lady Alice Fitzwilliam, Fragrantissimum and Veitchianum. They are kept outdoors and brought into the greenhouse if frost is forecast.
When the buds are ready to open they are brought indoors to sit on the table next to the computer. It's Lady Alice's turn to be brought in.
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Tom - Very odd behaviour on your cinns et al. When I first got my cinns I kept them in a frost-free ghouse for the winter and after they reached 1 meter or more - and the reusultant crowding - they all got powdery mildew and would drop all their foliage by spring. I got them in the ground as they got to 2m but most were too weakened to take the first winter out, maybe they were simply too tender. One from Clint Smith has never looked back. I never saw branch die-back though on any of them. Has Glendoick heard about this? Might be worth mentioning.
Here PM clears up once plants get outdoors permanently, one exception 'Golden Gate'.
john
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Bought this at The Tree Shop in Argyll in April: Rhododendron 'Egret'.
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I've visited a private collection of Rhododendron and Azalea, here're some shots.
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as i'm not an expert in this genius i'll not be able to give you hybrids name
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more of these beautiful rhododendron
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Some colors are difficult to render through camera's lens
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even more
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look at that shrub, a ball of flowers
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another batch of Azalea and Rhodo
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a few more
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red ones are difficult to capture
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the last photos
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Great collection Yann, many thanks for posting.
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That's a garden very much to my taste , Yann - thank you for showing us.
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A shame the blossoming is quiet short but when it all bloom it's marvellous.
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A well-planned rhododendron garden will not only have a long flowering peroiod but some plants which re-flower as well as a tremendous variety in foliage and form so year round interest can be found in such a place. 8)
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Indeed Maggi. My own evergreen azalea hybrids bloom here into early August and some forms of R. prunifolium can flower in early September. No other group of shrubs can boost the range of habits and exquisite foliar variety as the Rhododendron. I sometimes wonder if the flowers are not a bit of a distraction from the real display.
johnw
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that's true Maggi, my 25's old Azalea thrive for at least 2 months in a protected area of my parents garden.
A shame i don't have space anymore to plant some Rhodo.
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Yann mentioning Azaleas reminds me that there is another feature we should consider - scent! So many wonderfully scented Azaleas and rhodos.
At least you can visit lovely plants, Yann - and a big garden can also be a big problem in some ways!
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Rhododendron.
Name of the it is gone, it can be?
Yak x dicroanthum ssp apodectum?
Kindly Thorkild DK.
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Bought this at The Tree Shop in Argyll in April: Rhododendron 'Egret'.
I stopped off at The Tree Shop myself last week. A great wee nursery with some interesting plants - a good range of truly dwarf conifers as well as the selection of Rhodo's. Recommended.
I've visited a private collection of Rhododendron and Azalea, here're some shots.
What an amazing collection, Yann. A real treat for the eyes and nose to visit such a comprehensive collection.
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Rhododendron. Name of the it is gone, it can be? Yak x dicroanthum ssp apodectum? Kindly Thorkild DK.
Could well be that.
johnw
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Some fine rhododendrons in this thread : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13197.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13197.0) 8)
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I stopped off at The Tree Shop myself last week. A great wee nursery with some interesting plants - a good range of truly dwarf conifers ...
I picked up a plant of Phyllocladus alpinus 'Highlander'. Reading about it now I learn that, as well as experiencing a similar climate to ours in its natural distribution:
The wood is elastic, making the plant very wind-resistant
which will be useful here!
http://www.conifers.org/po/Phyllocladus_alpinus.php (http://www.conifers.org/po/Phyllocladus_alpinus.php)
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Elastic wood? I would lice elastic leaves on my plants. Several have lost almost all their leaves in the storms last winter.
Here is one which has kept its leaves. Maybe I should only grow small leaved ones! Rh 'Strawberry Cream'. A bit leggy but first flowers in my garden.
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I have just bought R. keleticum, Trond. Tiny leaves and a very compact, ground hugging habit so I'm thinking that it should do well here with me / there for you?
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Matt, I started with the smaller plants years ago but I also planted trees and big shrubs (they were all small when planted!). Now they throw too much shade and I have lost many of the smaller rhodos. I cut down some trees every winter!
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Two of my favourites are looking terrific at the moment. R. Percy Wiseman and R. Peeping Tom.
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So full of great flower, Shelagh.
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One more with flowers
Nancy Evans
birck
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Wow, I've always craved a pure yellow one. Have taken down the name, thanks Birck.
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For a small yellow with flowers in the style of campylogynum, Shelagh, I'd suggest 'Merganser' it's a real charmer. 'Yellowhammer' gets tall and can be a bit leggy - but it also throws out flowers on and off all year.
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Jens - What is the other yellow just peaking out on the extreme left of the 'Nancy Evans' photo?
john
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Jens - What is the other yellow just peaking out on the extreme left of the 'Nancy Evans' photo?
john
I wondered that - might it be Rhododendron 'Hotei' ?
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There we have
Grand Recital
a Jim Barlup hybrid a litle less yellow than NE
birck
(nice to be a jr member when you are close to 78)
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Oh, I don't know 'Grand Recital ' it has good flowers.
Nice to know the forum is keeping you "young" Jens! ;)
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How very Rubenesque!
Thanks Jens Jr.
john
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Rhododendron impeditum
[attachimg=1]
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Not as stunning as Jens's yellows, but still somewhat showy. Rhododendron 'Hachmann's Medley' (ambiguum x concinnum). Flowers (small, but born in abundance) are greenish-reddish-yellowish.
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Our R. impeditum threw up very few flowers this year, I was all for chucking it out but Brian has reprieved it.
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Same here. Normally should be covered. The very dry end of autumn and the last frost that killed some of the buds seem to have had some effects.
Best,
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Flowering now, Rhododendron camtschaticum, Rhododendron yakushimanum 'Yaku Prince', Rhododendron yakushimanum 'Silver Sixpence', Rhododendron Loderi Group 'Pink Diamond', and Rhododendron 'Graziela'.
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A couple of Knaphill hybrid azaleas, one is 'Golden Eagle'.
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Ralph,
quite a firework!
Some of mine in flower now (they're fortunately among the few plants left in peace by the slugs!)
Rh yunnanense
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
Rh seedlings - the first is a yak hybrid and the second is an unknown cross
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
The last picture shows 3 different ones with forgotten names!
[attachimg=5]
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Got this from Michael Wickenden as "Rhododendron 184 charitopes?". It isn't R. charitopes, looks more like the picture of R. brachyanthum var. hypolepidotum in Ken Cox's book.
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Looks like Rhododendron brachyanthum var. hypolepidotum to me too.
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Nice, isn't it!
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It is , Ralph - but I love all these smaller ones!
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Another not so big! Although the flowers are hanging under the leaves so you have to kneel to look at them, I like them!
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The Hutts Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park is a wonderful garden, blessed with some dedicated gardeners, including that maven of the rhodo world, Jens Nielsen. I have spotted that they have extended their garden open dates- and there is also news of a Sale!!
Quoted from Facebook - and with their photos of their sales plants.....
"To celebrate winning recent prestigious national and regional awards, and also due to the late spring, The Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park is extending it's season until Sunday 21st June. In addition Peter Roberts has reduced the entry to his garden to £5 and also 20% discount is on all rhododendrons and azaleas in the nursery.
Discount starts Saturday 13th June and will run until Sunday 21st June.
The cold spring has meant many of the beautiful late rhododendrons and azaleas are still in bloom, so a visit is still very worthwhile!
Tuesday to Sunday 10am until 4pm "
"We have 20% off all our Rhododendron and Azalea this week. Offer ends on Sunday 21st June.
Why not also have one last visit this spring for £5 garden entry too. Open Tue to Sun 10am until 4pm"
The Hutts Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park ( http://www.himalayangarden.com/ (http://www.himalayangarden.com/) )
Hutts Lane
Grewelthorpe
Ripon,
HG4 3DA
01765 658009
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Everything is late this year:
Rhododendron 'Karen Triplett'
Rhododendron yakushimanum 'Titian Beauty'
Rhododendron yakushimanum 'Golden Torch'.
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The fragrance from R. 'Snowbird' is exquisite.
johnw
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Rhododendrons at midsummer! Rhododendron 'Buttermint', a very attractive one, and Rhododendron occidentale SM26.
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Amazing rhodo's everybody ! :o :o
I'm very excited with the first flowering of the very dwarf Rhododendron lowndesii on my little peatbed.
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Amazing plant! Where did you find it? How do you grow it?
Corrado
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One of the holy grails Luc, well done. Any chance you could self a few flowers???? :-[ :-[ :-[
corradoerina - I think Aberconwy Nurseries sell it.
johnw
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I'm very excited with the first flowering of the very dwarf Rhododendron lowndesii on my little peatbed.
And you should be excited, Luc - this delightful little rhodo is not easy to grow. Your super photos show in detail the charm of this wee plant.
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Amazing rhodo's everybody ! :o :o
I'm very excited with the first flowering of the very dwarf Rhododendron lowndesii on my little peatbed.
Superb and very well-grown Luc!!!
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What a gorgeous wee plant, just fantastic, Luc.
One new acquisition in flower here is Rhododendron keleticum, planted in an ericaceous trough. Amazed by the size of the flowers in relation to the plant/leaves. The flowers have good colour/markings - is it the Rock form perhaps?
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We have one here, but it has not flowered yet! Yours looks quite stunning ....
Corrado
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Well done with Rhodo. lowndesii, Luc.
My Azaleas have flowered poorly this year apart from Rhododendron 'Rosebud'. The big deciduous Azaleas flowered very well last year and did not have the energy to do it this year. 'Rosebud' didn't used to flower well but was very good last year and even better this year. I'm not sure if it was the the warmer summer last year and the previous year or more light with the removal of the big birch trees.
First picture was about 10.30am and the second about 9.40pm which may account for the colour difference.
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Thanks for the praise everybody ! :D
I'm quite happy with it and I must admit I hadn't realized it has this "difficult" reputation... :-[ I got it from Aberconwy a couple of years ago, have not seen it listed since.
I'll keep an eye open to see if it sets seeds, John !
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I've been working with Betty Ann Addison, a long-time rock gardener and landscaper who has been breeding Minnesota-hardy large-leaf rhododendrons over the last few years. In late May and early June, most of them were blooming. One of the stars was Rhododendron smirnowii. Betty Ann raised it from seed years ago, and it finally flowered this year. Its leaves look a little awkward, but the flowers are lovely with ruffly edges. I also love the white velvet on the new growth.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
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Gabriel - There are a number of super-hardy primary hybrids with smirnowii and the hardiest of all brachycarpum Tigerstedtii Group (-47c). Using those species and a few others (how about fauriei?) you folks in Minnesota should get some very hardy hybrids in a relatively short time.
Here are a few I'd recommend and believe I've mentioned them to Betty.
1. Brueckner's brachycarpum Tigerstedtii x smirnowii
2. Sandra Hinton - brachycaprum Tigerstedtii x (smirnowii x yakushimanum)
3. Bellefontaine developed in interior Nova Scotia, likely not hardy for you but a source for fragrance and colour - fortunei x smirnowii
4. that fortunei x smirnowii grex at the Kentville Research Station.
5. Sandra Hinton again, like a smirnowii on steroids and likely hardier than smirnowii, this one is in PEI.
Keep up the good work out there.
johnw - a chilly 12c
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After the past nasty winter it was a great surprise to see this orange Hachmann hybrid developed in Germany doing so well. The cross is R. fauriei x 'Goldsworth Orange'. Usually these oranges are tender or with a host of leaf maladies but not this one, a must. It's very difficult to capture the true colour which just comes through in a few of those top trusses.
Rhododendron 'Flautando'
johnw
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Thank you for the recommendations and photos! Betty Ann actually has R. 'Bellefontaine', and it overwintered beautifully. She even had a R. fortunei 'Emmaline' from Western Nurseries that overwintered in a sheltered spot. Neither are blooming yet, but we're looking forward to when they bloom, so that we can get some fragrance into future hybrids.
She's got R. 'Sandra Hinton'. Those big flowers are beautiful, but sadly the plant covers them with its new growth.
R. 'Flautando' looks wonderful. Betty Ann is selecting for yellows and oranges right now, and we'd love some pollen. Would you send us some? She'd put it on the R. maximum that's blooming right now, and would save some for R. brachycarpum 'Green As Grass' when it blooms next year.
Here are four of Betty Ann's own selections. Numbers 1 and 2 are her lovely R. catawbiense × smirnowii hybrids: 'Candelabra' and 'Rice Creek Coral Dancer'.
Number 3 is R. catawbiense × yakushimanum 'Happy Hannah', named for her granddaughter, who's half Japanese (like yakushimanum) and half American. It has lovely lavender-pink tips to the flowers.
Number 4 is R. 'Peace Dove', an F2 hybrid of R. 'Rice Creek Coral Dancer' (selfed).
I just love 'Candelabra' because of its thick flowerheads with 20 flowers each. When the buds begin breaking, they look like big candles resting on the bouquets of leaves. It's completely hardy, and the mother plant (from which this plant was a cutting) has survived 30 years in Minnesota. But it's so special that it might even be worth growing in the big rhododendron hotspots on the West Coast and elsewhere.
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Gabriel
Now you've got me wondering if I sent cuttings of 'Bellefontaine' to Van Veen to root and had them send one to Betty, my mind is gone and she's not on my spreadsheet as slated for one. Well seems like you have a good start already with your rhodos. I think you'd best cross that fortunei - which I'd protect as it's only hardy to about -5F - onto brachycarpum.
The 'Flautando' is out at a friend's on the coast so it likely will be over by the time I get out there again. I emailed another friend who also has it and asked if she'd mail Betty pollen. No we had about 2" of heavy rain last night so there might not be much left. We'll see.
john
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John,
Betty Ann says she got 'Bellefontaine' from Greer or Whitney. Here's a picture of it, and of the fortunei 'Emmeline' (I got one letter wrong, according to the original tag on the plant). They both made it through the winter beautifully, as you can see.
Betty Ann says the temperature got down to -27 F (-33 C), with an early heavy freeze in November. The fortune was on the north side of a house, with winter shade. Betty Ann doesn't usually give plants winter protection, aside from giving them winter shade, so we'll just hope that the fortunei survives another winter. We'll be moving it to a new bed, also with winter shade from a house. The plants might be extra hardy because of the abundant fertilization they get every spring.
She'll certainly cross fortunei with brachycarpum 'Green As Grass'. With luck, we'll get a winter sun-hardy rhodie with fragrance.
A little bonus: a lovely rhododendron with shiny ripply leaves like gardenias — similar to 'Haaga', but even nicer. We don't know what it is exactly (some people say brachycarpum), but we'll find out next year when it blooms. At the moment, its tag says Rice Creek seedling #4. Hopefully its flowers are as beautiful as its leaves!
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Likely it was Whitney Gardens out on the Olympic Peninsula as in 2004 I sent Ellie cuttings of 'Bellefontaine' and quite a number of other Nova Scotian hybrids.
One hybrid you might use in hybridizing is a Kentville hybrid that is no longer grown here but survives & flowers in cold places like Fredericton, New Brunswick. You might like the name - it's 'Gabriel' (smirnowii x 'Dr. Dresselhuys'), the French Gabriel (Gah-bree-ell').
Anitra will send pollen of 'Flautando' to Betty Ann in the next day or so if all was not washed away.
johnw
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John,
Thanks for the recommendation. Funny that it has my name. Betty Ann hasn't heard of it, and she'd love to try it. Greer's Guidebook says it's got big tresses of pink with olive-brown spots. That sounds appealing. Where can we get it from? (And do you have any pictures of it lying around?)
Thanks as well for helping us get pollen. We'll just hope and pray that some new anthers opened after the rain.
On the topic of spots (I like to include a photo with each post), here's Betty Ann's selection 'Little Pete'. She was crossing a previous hybrid, 'White Peter', with brachycarpum roseum to try to get a pink blush with brown spots. She didn't get any pink, but just a more dwarf white. It's a beauty, though the flower stems can be too long. Now I think she's crossing the parent, 'White Peter', with 'Candelabra', to hopefully get a white with large tight flower clusters.
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At Rockburn Rhododendron elegantulum, one of those "WHAT"S THAT?" rhodos. And a selected form of R. calendulaceum at Donna's.
johnw
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One new acquisition in flower here is Rhododendron keleticum, planted in an ericaceous trough. Amazed by the size of the flowers in relation to the plant/leaves. The flowers have good colour/markings - is it the Rock form perhaps?
Hmm, I don't recall R.#58 as being a lovely clear pink like that. Maggi? That's quite a beauty Matt.
johnw
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Hmm, I don't recall R.#58 as being a lovely clear pink like that. Maggi? That's quite a beauty Matt.
johnw
Yes, May just be the colour in the photo but I think of the Rock58 form as being more purple than pink. Matt's plants is very nice.
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Thanks, John / Maggi. The photo is a close rendering of the actually colour. I'm pleased with it and hope it will do well here.
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Rhododendron 'Lava Flow' on July 5th
The last flowers are fading now and here is Rhododendron ochroleucum just starting. It seems to produce flowers almost all year.
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I'm sure Roma meant to say orthocladum v. microleucum for the white rhodo. It just keeps on flowering here....
john
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Thanks for the correction, John. I've been thinking that was its name for years. No wonder I could not find it when I tried to check. I must write down the correct name and try to remember it. Getting harder all the time ;D
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Roma, that white one is very cute. It's wonderful that it blooms almost all year. I haven't heard of a rhododendron that does that.
John, do you grow it too? Is it fully hardy in Nova Scotia? Maybe we could try it in Minnesota.
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We've grown Rhododendron orthocladum v. microleucum in the garden here in Aberdeen for about forty years -
( which rather gives the lie to my firm belief that I'm only 27 years old ) it often throws "extra" flowers here too and has survived horrible years when we had a low of minus 21 degrees C and we had minus 12 degrees C for several weeks at a time. It's a tough little plant !
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Roma, that white one is very cute. It's wonderful that it blooms almost all year. I haven't heard of a rhododendron that does that.
John, do you grow it too? Is it fully hardy in Nova Scotia? Maybe we could try it in Minnesota.
It's fully hardy here on the coast and in many places in the colder interior. Hardiness is not an issue but with these Lapponica spp. the issue is heat and especially hot to warm summer nights will knock them flat. They are essentially high alpine plants.
john - +18c and the sun trying to come out but not. Sending more wet weather eastward I'm afraid folks.
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Sending more wet weather eastward I'm afraid folks.
Nooooooooo! I had frogs complaining that my garden was too wet!
PS: 1 Cyp and one Rosa foetida are going under because of rot and black spot .... we must have 120% humidity in the last few weeks ....
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Still flowering away, 'St. Valentine'.
johnw - +18c @ 08:30
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Now this is late for a hardy rhododendron in these parts. R. brachycarpum Roseum Group x sanguineum ssp. didymum, it's siblings flowered a month ago.
john - Sunny, +24c w. 59% humidity making it somewhat bearable today.
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John, Betty Ann grows one from lapponicum group, I think: Rhododendron 'Karin Seleger'? It doesn't love our hot summers, but survives. It likes a bit of shade in summer, or at least cool soil.
26 C, about 40% humidity. For us, this is perfect summer weather. Above 30 C is a little hot.
The seed pods on Betty Ann's R. brachycarpum 'Green As Grass', the sun-tolerant one. These, I believe, were pollinated with R. 'White Peter', which has nicer white flowers with spots. Hoping to get a fine white sun-tolerant rhodie.
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Betty Ann grows one from lapponicum group, I think: Rhododendron 'Karin Seleger'? It doesn't love our hot summers, but survives. It likes a bit of shade in summer, or at least cool soil.
That is a 1971 Brueckner hybrid done in New Brunswick where it is cool and foggy, weather much like here but much colder in winter. Brueckner took it with him when he moved to hot, hot Toronto in the late 70's and it's still on the go there. Also does ok in Boston, Niagara and NJ. It's impeditum (Cox f.) x dauricum (ex V. Vasak, likely the extremely hardy tall Lake Baikal form).
Here's a pic of it in cool Bath, Maine where it looks better than ones in Mass.
john - +22c, 93% humidity. Extremely heavy rain last night with huge thunder crashes.
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Ernst Stöckmann Baumschulen's photo.
Great montage showing the variety to be found in Rhododendron foliage and illustrating their year- round interest just for leaves, without any flowers!
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Wonderful 8)
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On a visit to Logan gardens on the 8th, I was somewhat surprised to see a Rh. flowering at this time of year -Rhododendron Kyawii also complete with attractive leaves.
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Rhododendron forrestii repens flowering now.
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The very, very dwarf form of R. pseudochrysanthum at Anitra's garden yesterday. Circa 8 years old from a 2" pot!
john
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I had a pot of Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum seedlings (normal form) that I sowed this spring but unfortunately all the seedlings were eaten by some creature. I suspected a slug or snail was responsible for this but I didn't see a slug trail which is usually present when these slimy creatures have been around. Could mice have eaten my R. pseudochrysanthum seedlings? Another peculiar thing: only the pseudochrysanthum seedlings were eaten, the other pots with Rhododendron seedlings that were right next to it were untouched.
Fortunately still got some nice seedlings sown from American Rhododendron Society seed.
In the picture seedlings from:
-- (bureavii x yakushimanum) x kesangiae
-- yakushimanum (Exbury) x pachysanthum
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GP
Luck of the draw I guess with the pseudo seedlings. Haven't noticed any susceptibility to insect damage gere aside from weevil damage. I do find it a cranky species top get going from seed, and the dwarf one particularly so.
I have a few plants of (bur. x yak) x kesangiae that I did years ago and they are still small plants but yours looks very good.
john
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From Facebook - a post by Richard Baines, Curator of Logan Botanic Garden, about the flower buds froming on a Rhodo grown from seed from North Vietnam (source (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1017036094993457&set=a.613438258686578.1073741825.100000612277134&type=3&theater) )
First flower buds on CW &T 6442 (Clark, Wilson and Taggart) - unsure of species as yet - hopes it is a yellow maddenia. [attachimg=1]
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Dear all,
Leaves turning yellow and brown .... is this normal?
R. campylogynum
[attachimg=1]
R.fastigiatum
[attachimg=2]
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The yellowing leaves at this time of year is perfectly normal. Some of those leaves are last year's. However some are this year's - the latter older ones along the current year's stem but not not terminal ones - indicating insufficient sunlight.
Your campylogynum and fastigiatum should be extremely compact, more sun will help cure this once planted in the ground.
I trust there are holes in the bottom of that white bucket.
johnw - +4c & sunny
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Hi John!
So they need more sunlight? I thought they needed less hence I move them in a darker place .... They are actually very very compact .... particularly the fastigiatum. I am not going to move them to the ground, I will grow them in containers, because our soil is quite chalky.
PS: Of course the bucket has holes .... :)
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The fastigiatum is the one to the left in another white bucket? Whereas the centre one looks like a Saluenensia species.
Here's fastigiatum in the garden planted about 1974. Pic over-exposed I'm afraid but note the indicative bluish foliage.
john
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The one I bought as R.fastigiatum is the one in the centre of the second picture.
Best,
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After its first winter in cold Polish soil my Rh. sinofalconeri C&H 7183 put up over 30 cm of growth this year. It seems it likes it here, and it's here to stay.
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Very satisfying for you to see that growth, Tomasz. I hope it continues to grow well for you - I'll be waiting with you for its first flowers in a few years time.
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Roma, good to see your R. forrestii in flower. Mine died, probably too dry. I have now replaced with R. carmen, a hybrid with forrestii, to see if it is more hardy here.
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Tomasz
That's great news on Rh. sinofalconeri C&H 7183. Everyone has been recommending it as one to try in cold places like here. What was the lowest temperature it endured?
The other one is the dwarf alpine macabeanum which I haven't tried yet. Here's a cross of brachycarpum Tigetstedtii x macabeanum by Ron Rabideau which looks so much like macabeanum itself. That's George Woodard, head gardener at the Phipp's Estate standing by it, he has done the same cross and it is his only hybrid the New York Botanic Garden has agreed to grow, it is spectacular.
johnw - we need a few good light frosts to prepare things for the inevitable plunge.
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Great looking hybrid - love those big guys.
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That's great news on Rh. sinofalconeri C&H 7183. Everyone has been recommending it as one to try in cold places like here. What was the lowest temperature it endured?
-13C. It was a mild winter, so we'll have to wait and see how it will look like after a harsh one. I hope that -20C that it will likely see one day won't kill it.
John, that mac hybrid is stunning indeed. I have a brach x mac plant from Bengt Carlsson, but a small one, still in pot.
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Tomasz
-13c is pretty balmy for a low, at least your plant will have a good root sytem established before real winters return.
Do keep us informed when your bT x mac from Bengt flowers. So far the cross has only produced whites, we need is someone to do the reverse mac x bT. The late John Basford of Brodick said the mother should always be the yellow if you want the yellow to appear in future generations.
john
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Great looking hybrid - love those big guys.
As do I, I love those leaves. :)
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Inverewe Gardens is a good place to see rhodos. My favourite is R. sinogrande. You need a field and a lot of years to see it flower though.
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Rhododendron
I have a little trouble with the name of this Rhododendron.
Can it be R. Towheat minus white ludlowii?
About 50 cm high.
Thorkild.
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Not sure, Thorkild- but I do know that there is a little hybrid called 'Towhead' - which is very similar to a Scottish name too and means, in English, string head - that is - someone with yellow hair.
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Here's 'Towhead' in Halifax. Slightly pinched base of the flowers, foliage sometimes with blemishes and cranky to grow. Tough as nails however. While the unopened buds promise a pale yellow they open white. Your buds don't show this and that could be our difference in latitude - 44 here. Think we can safely say yours is 'Towhead'.
johnw
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Thanks for reply.
Maggi and Johnw.
Thorkild
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Rhododendrons in flower today, the 14th of November.
1 - 'Bridal Bouquet', a Pogonantha
2 - hipphaeoides 'Haba Shan'
3 - pseudochrysanthum x proteoides
4 - trichostomum (Jen's Birck pink f.)
Not a rhodo but one very showy plant for autumn colour
5 - Enkianthus perrulatus 'Compactus', less than a foot high at 25 years old.
johnw
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I really enjoy the "out of season" rhodo flowers.
Enkianthus perrulatus 'Compactus', less than a foot high at 25 years old.
A little gem, there, John.
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I can't agree more ,what a foliage
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Wow! that Enkianthus is one to look out for. But of course now I'm dreaming about a few Rhododendron in our new garden - did you prepare
special beds for them?
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No preparation here as the soil is acidic, just a top-dressing of needles, bark mulch or oak leaves every few years.
Here's that Enkianthus perrulatus 'Compactus' today. By the way it flowers lightly and seldomly and is impossible to propagate by conventional means, root cuttings best I'm told.
johnw
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It looks like a fire bowl! probably it's even glowing in the dark :)
I am not that lucky with the soil here...
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Forumist enthusiasm have had me paying more attention to the autumn colour progress of my pair of Enkianthus perrulatus 'Compactus'. The camera fails to catch the brilliance of the reds and yellows. Note the difference in the leaf coloration around that beige dead leaf in the two pix. 0Two shots from this morning.
johnw
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Startlingly bright colours, aren't they? Love 'em!
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Forumist enthusiasm have had me paying more attention to the autumn colour progress of my pair of Enkianthus perrulatus 'Compactus'. The camera fails to catch the brilliance of the reds and yellows. Note the difference in the leaf coloration around that beige dead leaf in the two pix. 0Two shots from this morning.
johnw
It is the inside beige and yellow leaves that make for its particular glow. I had intentions of placing a yellow light inside the Itea virginica, which has almost the same red foliage, but it's too far from the house; it wouldn't have look the same anyway...
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15c yesterday, vast amounts of rain, a frost last night and a skid of snow on rooves (odd this comes up as a spelling error) this morning. Crazy weather. Got home late and tried to shoot that Enkianthus perrulatus 'Compactus' as it was suddenly in full autumn dress, blurry I'm afraid but you get the picture. Doubt any foiiage after last night.
A scramble to get things under cover last night. Notably the Green Mile Podophyllum pleianthums and versipelles were as green as in mid summer whereas others had gone down.
johnw
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Gorgeous colours!
... rooves (odd this comes up as a spelling error) ...
Ummm, that's because it is one... "roofs" is the plural. :)
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Gorgeous colours!
Ummm, that's because it is one... "roofs" is the plural. :)
Rooves taught in school in these parts and apparently - googling - also used in NZ and Oz. Don't know about the UK.
john
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It varies John, I usually use 'roofs' but my wife uses 'rooves'. It don't matter a jot at the end of the day. ;)
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'Rooves' in Ireland too.
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Very interesting! I've looked into it further... and I'll be darned. The usage of "rooves" for the plural is described in some references as "archaic"... I'm getting to be pretty archaic myself so it's funny I was never exposed to this! :D
johnw, I'm utterly amazed to hear that "rooves" is taught in Nova Scotia!
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... The usage of "rooves" for the plural is described in some references as "archaic"...
Applicable in my case anyway ;) ;D
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Applicable in my case anyway ;) ;D
Hee. One reference says "you are quite correct using rooves if you are 260 years or older....."
johnw
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Rhododendron
Is there anyone who will help with the name of this Rhododendron,
may be R. fortunei?
Thorkild. DK.
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Hard to tell if it is pure R. fortunei but it certainly appears to be one. Are the petioles dark red/purple? Compare it with these.
john
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R. pubescens in the garden today. This and other species, such as R. racemosum, etc., have proven to be fairly drought tolerant. They have survived the drought with basically no damage at all. :)
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I can not say the same for the big leaf Rhododendrons. They have been very heat tolerant for us, however everyone in the garden died this year due to the drought conditions. Some were fairly old and established. :'(
This R. preptum, in a large container, is looking good. I was able to give it plenty of water. I do have back-up seedlings of some of the other big-leaf species, so I will be giving them another try out in the garden if the drought ends this year.
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The deciduous azaleas did well too, despite 4 years of drought.
Rhododendron luteum 'Golden Comet' with a bit of autumn color remaining.
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I have two similar rhododendrons (lapponicum) in my garden and I can confirm that they don't like direct midday sun. One is located under cherry tree and is doing fine, but the other one gets more midday sun and it does not thrive at all - it is susceptible to diseases. I have also Azaleas 'Rosy Lights' and it does not mind full sun. So it depends on the species but in general rhododendrons like to grow under trees: rhododendron growing (https://gardeningtheme.com/theme/rhododendron-growing-guide) conditions. Rhododednrons under trees don't need so much water either.
Enjoy your plants :)