Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Specific Families and Genera => Rhododendron and other Ericaceae => Topic started by: Steve Garvie on April 11, 2016, 04:59:58 PM

Title: Rhododenron ID help please
Post by: Steve Garvie on April 11, 2016, 04:59:58 PM
I would be grateful for any help in the naming of these two medium-large species (not hybrids) bought from Glendoick c20 years ago; the labels are long lost.

I thought the first might be a form of R. wardii but it is always fairly early in flower (from 1st week of March). I haven't a clue about the second which has only produced flowers for the last 3 years -the trusses are very attractive.

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1558/26296576786_d294ce5680_o.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1618/26230119072_fa14897934_o.jpg)



(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1639/26296576076_76aeb1278a_o.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1711/26322521355_b0fa39f985_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Rhododenron ID help please
Post by: johnw on April 13, 2016, 08:59:39 PM
Steve  - Jens thinks the first might be citriniflorum and says "(nectar pouches)".  It's one that always escapes me as I can't get the orange var. horaeum out of my head when I think of that species.  See why?  (Both photos by JCBirck)

john

 
Title: Re: Rhododenron ID help please
Post by: Steve Garvie on April 13, 2016, 10:25:37 PM
Thanks John.
I have vague memories of thinking that I had bought an orange flowered rhodo -only for it to flower yellow, so I think you are spot on with citriniflorum.

Any ideas regarding the second plant?
Title: Re: Rhododenron ID help please
Post by: johnw on April 13, 2016, 11:13:47 PM
Steve - Jens thinks the second "might be elegantulum".   I don't have his expertise but the leaf stance and long shoots look odd to me & wonder if it could be a hybrid, pure speculation and could be your climate.

Three elegantulum pix -

1. Jens Birck's

2. Jens Nielsen's photo in the wild and sent to drive me crazy, of course he told me what it was many weeks later.

3. one here in Halifax @ Rockburn.  It's a very compact species here.

johnw
Title: Re: Rhododenron ID help please
Post by: Steve Garvie on April 16, 2016, 08:56:09 AM
Steve - Jens thinks the second "might be elegantulum".   I don't have his expertise but the leaf stance and long shoots look odd to me & wonder if it could be a hybrid, pure speculation and could be your climate.

johnw
Thanks John.
My plant is growng in too much shade which may have influenced its appearance.
I've checked the underleaf surface -there is indumentum.
I think you are right: it is either elegantulum or a hybrid thereof.
Title: Re: Rhododenron ID help please
Post by: Maggi Young on April 16, 2016, 02:08:45 PM
A very acidic pink in the flowers of Steve's  "elegantulum" - more soe than in mine, even  before the flowers fade -  here are a few pix  plus a link or two  to more  http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10.msg8619#msg8619 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10.msg8619#msg8619)
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=1530.msg38551#msg38551 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=1530.msg38551#msg38551)

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Title: Re: Rhododenron ID help please
Post by: David Nicholson on April 16, 2016, 04:35:34 PM
A very acidic pink in the flowers of Steve's  "elegantulum" - more soe than in mine, even  before the flowers fade -  here are a few pix  plus a link or two  to more  http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10.msg8619#msg8619 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10.msg8619#msg8619)
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=1530.msg38551#msg38551 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=1530.msg38551#msg38551)


Nice Maggi, what sort of height do they grow to, would I get away with a pot?
Title: Re: Rhododenron ID help please
Post by: Maggi Young on April 16, 2016, 06:03:49 PM
Well, you might for a few years, David  - but it's a biggish plant in the end and it wouldn't look too good in a pot except for a year or two while very young.  Mine is now  about 3m high and about he same across.  We're raising the stem every so often to get a more tree-like appearance and give under-planting space but if left to its own devices it would be a big fat, beautiful shrub.

For a pot I'd go for a  R. pachysanthum- if I wanted a good flower and fine foliage - other than a species  yakushimanum  that is - it keeps  shorter for  longer  (if you follow me)  and can have a neat growth habit which would look good  in a big pot.
By and large though, I feel the smaller leaved rhodos look better in pots. Those with even   'standard-sized' leaves, l think, tend to look too ungainly in a pot.
Title: Re: Rhododenron ID help please
Post by: ashley on April 16, 2016, 06:34:40 PM
Beautiful indumentum. 
Title: Re: Rhododenron ID help please
Post by: David Nicholson on April 16, 2016, 06:48:48 PM
Cheers for that Maggi. From the Plant Finder I've found a stockist for Rhododendron pachsanthum (in theory anyway!) at a Nursery in Kent (G Reuthe Ltd no web site) so I'll be on the blower on Monday to check. We have a few days break planned in Kent next month.
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