Rhododendron... every garden should have some

[ronm]

That's very useful, thank you. That's the one for me Maggi. 

[Maggi Young]

It has trace elements as well as the NPK content, so that gives an extra boost to most plants that are looking a bit "hungry"!

[tonyg]

Someone on another forum that I use has an unknown Rhododendron.  From the little in the linked picture can anyone give it a name?  There is some more info in the write-up.

http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/1780289

[johnw]

Tony  - Impossible to say without seeeing the leaves, petioles, undersides and the truss fully opened, a bit like id'ing an unopened snowdrop.  If I had to stick my neck out I might say a white macabeanum.  Of course one looks for great yellows in this species, not white.  Maggi or Jens will have a better offer I'm sure.

johnw

[Maggi Young]

Super bullate leaves in the pic... and a really lovely pink disc-cupped style......  I don't know what it is though.

[Jan]

Rh. mucronulatum

[Hoy]

Rhododendron dauricum?? is the first one to flower here - it started in February but the first flowers were damaged by a spell of frost in mid February. Rh moupinense is also early and will open its buds tomorrow I think!

[johnw]

Rhododendron dauricum?? is the first one to flower here - it started in February but the first flowers were damaged by a spell of frost in mid February.

Hoy - I think your dauricum might have a pinch of mucronulatum in its background.  R. dauricum here is evergreen though it only holds terminal leaves as yours shows.  However the growth habit  - climate? - and colour suggests the completely deciduous mucronulatum is lurking.

johnw

[Hoy]

Rhododendron dauricum?? is the first one to flower here - it started in February but the first flowers were damaged by a spell of frost in mid February.

Hoy - I think your dauricum might have a pinch of mucronulatum in its background.  R. dauricum here is evergreen though it only holds terminal leaves as yours shows.  However the growth habit  - climate? - and colour suggests the completely deciduous mucronulatum is lurking.

johnw

Thanks John. Make sense. The plant is from seeds I got from a friend some years ago. A bit lanky habit but nice in spring.

[Roma]

Rhododendron 'Praecox' about 10 days ago before a couple of nights with frost.  It's still flowering but lots of flowers damaged.
Rhododendron leucaspis which spends the winter under a bench in the greenhouse.  It needs pruning regularly so that it fits the space.  I have some seedlings coming along so it may be disposed of in a few years time.

[Roma]

Scenting my greenhousejust now
Rhododendron cubittii

[ian mcenery]

Before it gets cold here are a few of mine

R calophytum a most unusual flower
R  arboreum roseum Tony Schilling. This plant took a severe hammering in the hard winter of last year and was not helped by the driest summer for many yaers. I hope it will improve this year arboreums are such architecturally shaped plants

Also a companion plant Magnolia Caerhays Surprise

[Maggi Young]

Super blackcurrant marking in the  R. calophytum, Ian.

I do hope the frost does not damage all those great flowers. I'm trying not to think about it here.

[ian mcenery]

Super blackcurrant marking in the  R. calophytum, Ian.

I do hope the frost does not damage all those great flowers. I'm trying not to think about it here.

It is a worry isn't it with lots of stuff about to burst forth. I suppose we have to pay for this unseasonal weather GRRRRH 

[Maggi Young]

We escaped damage last night.... only rain. what a relief. Visitors coming today, Pam Eveleigh,(PrimulaWorld) currently the SRGC Travelling Speaker, and President Liz Mills.... at least they'll see flowers not 'teabags'.