Rhododendron... every garden should have some

[angie]

John do you think this is the same plant.
Angie

[Eric Locke]

Rhododendron "Blue Tit"

A very confused Rhododendron I feel ,in full flower today.

Eric

[Paul T]

John and Angie,

Great little Vireya.  I didn't realise there were forms that diminutive.  I wonder if they're over here in Aus?

Eric,

Nice blue. 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Rhododendron "Blue Tit"

A very confused Rhododendron I feel ,in full flower today.

Eric

A lot of confusion in nature nowadays Eric.  We've been having rainy, windy but warm (up to +17°C) weather for the last 2 or 3 weeks now and I noticed a frog splashing into the pond yesterday... Normally they disapear into their Winter quarters for hibernation early October here... Obviously, they don't read the calendar 

[johnw]

Angie - It certainly looks like it but the foliage is a bit different than the one here.  The foliage on mine is smaller and very hard.  I am  blown away by the luxiance of yours.  I have another clone which is more compact and a slightly different colour.

Both came from a friend in California but I saw the same two in the Vireya house at RBGE.  What was your source?

johnw

[johnw]

Rhododendron "Blue Tit"

A very confused Rhododendron I feel ,in full flower today.

Eric

We have had a major bloom of most lepidotes here this autumn. Usually we get a few flower but not on the whole plant as this year.  R. primuliflorum gave a good show for 6 weeks whereas in the Spring 10 days would be considered good.

Puzzling.

johnw

[angie]

Hi John
I just found it sitting in a corner of a garden centre in Edinburgh, they new nothing about it, no label on it to tell me the name or anything else but at £5 I thought it was worth it. The garden centre thought it wasn't hardy so I have always kept it in a pot and put it in my polytunnel just to give it some winter protection,I have had it for three years and it flowers lovely. Just wandered if they were wrong about its hardiness.
Angie

[Maggi Young]

Angie, I too love your rhodo.... I do think it will be enjoying and indeed, needing, the protection of your poly tunnel  It is a real stonker!! Fab!!

[johnw]

I wrote to Kenneth Cox last night and he sent a shot of the sibling of yours called Saxon Glow.  Saxon Glow is the other one I have. So yours and mine - posted before - appear to be the same thing. And I am happy to have a name for the sibling. Mine must be so small due to the lean conditions here.

I am very surprised yours survived in a tunnel after last winter. R. saxifragoides is supposed to tolerate a bit of frost. How cold do you think it got in your polyhouse?

johnw

[angie]

Hi John, your Saxon glow is stunning. I had a look at Kenneth Cox's catalogue and I was amazed to read that it was more for indoors I think I have been lucky but I don't want to loose the plant so I shifted it today into my greenhouse. Last winter was a long cold one so I do think I have been lucky it probally got down to -3 and the year before that wasn't to bad I do hang fleece over the plants that are a bit tender. I am glad that you posted a picture of your plant as I would have been disappointed if I had lost mine. I do think these plants hold onto there flowers for such a long time. Isn't this forum great that's another plant identified and even more important I found out about the conditions that it requires. Thanks John.
Angie

[johnw]

Angie - While I have Saxon Glow the shot is one Ken Cox sent this morning.  Mine is very dwarf and not so vigorous as in the picture.

You were very lucky to have had the plant survive the cold. That -3c was probably close to if not its limit.

johnw

[angie]

John,  I think you are right, I was lucky this time, enjoy your plants.
Angie

[johnw]

Tropic Glow x saxifragoides #1 in flower here today.  The second photo shows the true colour.  Twenty fat buds on a tiny plant.  

Still more to come on #2 which started flowering in November.

johnw

[Ragged Robin]

Lovely flowers, John, they really do have a tropical feel, almost waxy looking, and I love the shiny dark stamens - 20 buds is a good cache to look forward to in flower 

[angie]

Really nice colour, I do love that shape of flower, cant wait till my plants start to flower.
Would be nice to see more if you can.
Angie