Rhododendron... every garden should have some

[t00lie]

Dave, l like the second one. I like the dark leaves and as we have to look at the foliage for a long time to me it's as important as the flowers.
The rest of your garden in the picture looks very interesting. Maybe another picture for nosy me please.

Angie  

No worries Angie.

Here's another view of the small back garden .
 
Firstly ,taken over the shoulder of the Rhodo you like ,followed by the view looking back and because i know you grow some of these ,(or hybrids),a couple pics of Cyp formosanum that has 5 flowering spikes this season growing in amongst a clump of Paris quadrifolia beside the concrete path .

Cheers Dave.

[daveyp1970]

Dave i have to say it's a good job I don't live near you because i would never be away from your garden,there is plantsmans plants everywhere

[johnw]

a little diff to tell here - it most comes to "gestalt" so have a look at the  picture att.:
watsonii is bone hardy here ( at least clone : Hummel 33) praestans will only live for a few years here   jens

Thanks Jens. Will try to house in the gestalt bank.

johnw

[johnw]

Thank you both, good to have names on the seed envelopes! Rh. watsonii should be bone hardy even for me, considering the altitude and climate where it grew... There's a 4th one that I forgot; also on Gongga, about 3840m, short plant maybe 50cm tall - any ideas?

Will only say it may be a Taliensia species, maybe beginning with a or p.

Jens will know.

johnw

[birck j c]

I think you have to use both letters in there

my guess

aganniphum

jens

[TC]

A surprise today.  After floods of rain the past weeks I finally had a look round the garden.  To my surprise, a flower truss had appeared on my Rh.xanthocodon.  This is about 6 months out of synch. I can only presume our cool wet Summer has been a boon to the Rhododendron family.

[arisaema]

Thanks again for the ID!

[birck j c]

Some very good autumn colours this year.
There are some rhododendrons in there:
bureavii and a Jacksonii in full flower.

birck

[Anthony Darby]

This Vireya is called 'Java Light'. It's very orange!

[fermi de Sousa]

This Vireya is called 'Java Light'. It's very orange!

Looks more like a Lava Light, Anthony!
I posted some pics of Vireyas from the Ferny Creek Show [a few weeks ago] here:http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=7930.75 at reply #87
cheers
fermi

[johnw]

Just noticed two Vireyas in flower today. Tropic Glow x saxifragoides. The last shot is a sibling of the other one. Nice to have rhododendron flowers in these dark days.

johnw

[glynnffc]

I thought the Vireya Rhodo's were hard to grow,or are you two experts.
If they are not that tricky where can I get some?

[johnw]

Vireyas are dead easy to grow.  Keep frost free, outdoors when possible May-October , use a clay pot, a very loose mix incorporating more than 60% coarse bark and coco fibre, under-pot, fertilize 2-3 times a year 1/4 strength, water when quite dry - never if wet or moist.   If outdoors they get what they get but the caveat is that our humidity ranges from 85-91% in the spring & summer. Keep slightly drier in winter.  They will quickly die of root rot if over-watered but will rarely die of drought - at least outdoors here. Remember they're epiphytic.

If you're in North America try The Rhododendron Species Foundation, Bovees Nursery or Greer Gardens. If you're in Europe try Glendoick Gardens.  Plenty to be found in Australia, NZ and the orient.

johnw

[TC]

In Scotland, Vireyas are not really suited for outdoor growing. The trouble is that our weather is too variable from day-to-day.  I have only seen Vireyas successfully grown in glasshouses or conservatories. If a particularly hardy variety was chosen and great care taken with cultivation - moving it in or out of a glasshouse  - then you may just succeed.  Frost free costs a lot of money now!    However,it is better to grow Rhods. that suit our climate - there are hundreds to choose from.
On a different tack now, I have had a look at all my Rhods. and have noticed that many of them are well forward in bud.  If our mild weather continues then several will be trying to flower in December.  All it will need is a couple of nights of frost and that will be the end of the flowers for another year

[Maggi Young]

Hello Glynnffc, good to have you in the Forum.
As John says, vireyas are not hard to grow.... but they do prefer some warmth.... the conditions that cool to warm orchids like would probaly be perfect for them in the UK.