RHODODENDRON
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RHODODENDRON
Scented Rhododendrons suitable for conservatory or cool greenhouse are marked with an asterisk.
Syn. Azalea.
Genus of more than 1000 species of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs from Europe, Asia, Australasia and North America, particularly southwestern China, Tibet, Burma, northern India and New Guinea.
Evergreen rhododendrons vary greatly in size and usually have bell-shaped flowers with 10 stamens.
Azaleas have smaller, thinner leaves and are generally medium-sized shrubs with smaller, funnel-shaped flowers with, usually, 5 stamens.
The problem rhododendron, vigorous hybrids of R. ponticum, which is colonizing large areas has been given the name R x superponticum and is subject to EU legislation under the "Invasive Alien Species Regulation".
Garden location should have suitably acidic soil.
Full Plant Details - Sun/Soil & other attributes
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Burncoose speciality
See Burncoose Speciality group for more details -
Good to know
National flower of Nepal. A tree-like specimen for a sheltered woodland setting -
Pests & Diseases
Vine weevil, scale insects, honey fungus, powdery mildew, bud blast -
Place of origin
Eastern Asia, Himalayas to Sri Lanka -
Rhododendrons
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Rhododendron
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EvergreenInversely lance-shaped, dark green leaves 7-19cm (2¾-7½in) long, with a silvery, fawn or cinnamon-brown indumentum beneath
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Woodland garden
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Fully hardy
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Height
12m (40ft). 2m (6½ft) after 10 years -
Spread
4m (13ft). 2m (6½ft) after 10 years
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Tall ShrubProduces trusses of 15-20 bell-like flowers to 5cm (2in) across with black nectar pouches and black spots inside
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Tree
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Hardy - average winter
Hardy through most of the UK apart from inland valleys, at altitude and central/northerly locations. May suffer foliage damage and stem dieback in harsh winters in cold gardens. Plant can withstand temperatures down to -10°C (14°F) -
Spring Seasonal Interest
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Acid / ericaceous lovingIdeally pH 4.5-6.0
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Fertile moist well-drained soilHumus-rich
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Full sun
Where reliably moist -
Partial shade
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harmful if eaten
People and pets, i.e. cats, dogs, rabbits, rodents, tortoises -
Rounded to broadly spreading
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Mature Size12m (40ft). 2m (6½ft) after 10 years
4m (13ft). 2m (6½ft) after 10 years
View Planting Tips and Care Advice
Rhododendron - Care Guide
- Pruning
- Pruning - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Dwarf Rhododendrons for smaller spaces - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Dead Heading
- Dead Heading - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Weed Killing
- Pests and Diseases
- Drought issues - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Honey Fungus - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Maintenance - fallen tree - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Every Colour, Every Shape...
- Further Reading
- Planting out rhodies - Video Tip ondemand_video
Rhododendron - Propagation
- Growing from seed
- Rhododendron Seed Collecting - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Potting on Rhododendron seedlings - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Propagation Program - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Growing from cuttings
- Propagation by taking semi-ripe cuttings - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Propagation by layering - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Propagation by other means
- Making a hybrid - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Making a hairy or scaly cross - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Caerhays bred 'Red Centurian'
Rhododendron - Video Spotlights
- R. augustinii, edgeworthii x leucaspis, 'Anne Teese', loderi 'King George' - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Rhododendron 'Cilpinense' - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Rhododendron decorum (pink form) - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Rhododendron genestrianum - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Five late flowering rhodies - Video Tip ondemand_video
- R. loderi 'King George' - Video Tip ondemand_video
- R. niveum - Video Tip ondemand_video
- R. 'Ostara' - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Rhododendron ‘Pink Polar Bear’ - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Rhododendron rhabdotum
- Scented Rhododendrons - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Rhododendron mucronulatum - Video Tip ondemand_video
View Planting Combinations
