Rhododendron... every garden should have some

[TC]

I had a look round the garden today to see what was stirring after the recent spell of milder weather.  Cindy pointed out that our Rh.Proteiodes looked as if it was producing flower buds.  We bought this from Glendoick last year on one of my whims not really expecting it to do much except keep small and have nice foliage.  I have never seen it in flower and I hope that my flower buds are not just new growth.  Have a look at the pictures and give me an opinion please.  I will be rather chuffed if it flowers within the first year !

Misspelled the name !!!

[Maggi Young]

By jove! Lucky you... those do look like flower buds.... 
I was caught out last year with R. proteiodes when I told John W that he must seriously be kidding himself when he showed buds which he felt were flower buds... I was sure they were only growth buds but I was happily proved very wrong! 

[johnw]

Yes Maggi, I vividly recall that.  AND the plastic Nerine.

Congratulations Tom. How old is the plant?

johnw

[mark smyth]

Reply #171 on: December 06, 2008

Ian sorry for the long delay. I must go and take a photo soon

[TC]

John

I have no idea of its age.  The size in the picture is the size it was when I bought it. I don't know if it is a layered cutting or if it was grown from seed.
It was planted on a dwarf wall in soil/grit compost, facing south.  It gets the sun (when it appears) for about half a day.  In winter it is partly shaded by my neighbour's garage.  It can get scoured by wind and rain in this position.  I probably got a plant with good flowering genes.  Time will tell !

[Maggi Young]

Our chum Alan Newton spends a lot of time tending his alpine house plants, though he grows a lot outside too, but he seems to think I doubt his capabilities as a rhodo grower, because his wonderful elder daughter Victoria, many of you will know her as as tireless worker at the Hexham and Ponteland shows...
(we call her the Crown Princess  ).... has sent me these photos to prove her Dad can grow rhodos.... and here they are.....  he seems to have got the hang of them quite well! 
 click the pix to enlarge them!

[Diane Clement]

This seems to be doing well this year.   It had to be lifted last year to make way for the new Access frame (behind it in the picture).  It clearly did not mind the move, indeed is flowering as well as ever

Rhododendron 'Sapphire'

[Paul T]

So Tom.... is the R. proteiodes definitely flowering?  Would love to see a followup shot.

[TC]

I am still not certain.    They are beginning to look like new growth butthey are still off-white.  I have never seen this variety in flower so I do not know what to expect.  It obviously likes where it is and is healthy. I should know in a week's time and I will post another picture.

On a different tack, we visited Cox's garden centre on our circuitous way home after the Perth show.  Despite my best intentions to only look and admire, I came away with 5 Rhod./Azaleas -Albrechtii, Hippophaiodes Haba Shan, Laponica hyb. Night Sky, Fabia and a dwarf evergreen azalea Red Panda.
My excuse was that we had gardening vouchers as Christmas presents that needed used. It wasn't real money except that the plastic card had to make up the excess !!

Looking out at my back garden ,(in sunshine),I can't see a square foot of ground that has not been planted.  Today reality will set in.  I do not have an Argyllshire estate of 200 acres of mountain and woodland but an overcrowded suburban garden of 70 square yards.  I will find a space somewhere.

[Paul T]

Tony,

WE always find a space.... somewhere!!    I think that is the catch cry of serious gardeners, isn't it? 

[ian mcenery]

Just coming out now .............and the scent 

R loderi King George

[gote]

This is the very first Rhododendron to flower in my place. All others are weeks away.
It is R mucronulatum. I bought a tiny seedling many years ago, planted it and forgot  it.
A couple of times I mistook it for a salix of kind.
Then one spring a couple of years ago a guest came back after an unguided tour in the garden.
"What is that pink Shrub Göte?"  I: What shrub?? ?? I have no shrub flowering now.
But I had.  Now I have the problem that I cannot find any more of them.
Göte
 

[Robin Callens]

Hi all,

My first rhodo pics on this topic, I even think everyone should have more than one rhodo in his garden.

1) R. orbiculare
2) R. orbiculare
3) R. hotei
4) R. hotei
5) R. sutchuenense

Robin

[Maggi Young]

Rhododenedron 'Hotei' is one of the nicest yellow hybrids, I think. With us here in Aberdeen it flowers later than this, more towards June.
Sadly ours was being overgrown by other bushes and has left us for a  new home in a friend's garden
It has good parents to make it so pretty, of course:
[dichroanthum x fortunei ssp discolor] x [soulei xwardii]

I love that the calyx is the same yellow as the flower.

We took out R. orbiculare because it was getting out of shape beside a really good Sorbus szechwanense and now we only have a little plant from a layer of the old one.

[WimB]

Robin,

nice pics. I was wondering when you would show some of your rhodo's. I like the orbiculare especially.