Author Topic: Rhododendron... every garden should have some (Read 154377 times)

Luc Gilgemyn · « **Reply #210 on:** May 17, 2009, 03:49:04 PM »

Thanks for the kind words everyone ! It will encourage me when we start deadheading them ....

Yes John - the one next to Yakushimanum is indeed Percy Wiseman.

I'm afraid the Yak isn't scented Robin but it does have other assets doesn't it ?

It is my favourite, and going by the reactions here, I'm not alone with that point of view. I've put you on the wrong foot with the captions 'Tuinzichten' which is Dutch for "Garden views" - a caption I use for the more general pictures. And I agree with you that the Rhoddies fit in well as background for a rock garden. The lavender one and the magenta one are some 20 odd years old and I've never known their names, they were pretty 'common' but they build a nice corner I think.

johnw · « **Reply #211 on:** May 17, 2009, 04:21:21 PM »

Quote from: Luc Gilgemyn on May 17, 2009, 03:49:04 PM

The lavender one and the magenta one are some 20 odd years old and I've never known their names, they were pretty 'common' but they build a nice corner I think.

Luc - Might be English Roseum, Roseum Elegans (the "pinker" of the two) and Catawbiense Boursault, and the red perhaps Nova Zembla. All are grown here but you have access to so many others I am most likely mistaken.

johnw

Luc Gilgemyn · « **Reply #212 on:** May 17, 2009, 04:24:25 PM »

Catawbiense is the one John ! Now I remember - the name Nova Zembla does ring a bell as well, but as I wrote it's over 20 year ago...

David Nicholson · « **Reply #213 on:** May 17, 2009, 04:36:23 PM »

Wow Luc, gorgeous. Is your soil very acidic?

Lvandelft · « **Reply #214 on:** May 17, 2009, 05:50:37 PM »

Leuke tuinzichten, Luc!

johnw · « **Reply #215 on:** May 17, 2009, 06:29:45 PM »

Quote from: Luc Gilgemyn on May 17, 2009, 04:24:25 PM

but as I wrote it's over 20 year ago...

A mere flicker of time in the life of a rhododendron.

johnw

Luc Gilgemyn · « **Reply #216 on:** May 17, 2009, 06:51:31 PM »

Quote from: David Nicholson on May 17, 2009, 04:36:23 PM

Wow Luc, gorgeous. Is your soil very acidic?

It's not all that acidic David - it's a sandy/loam - more sand than loam actually - I tend to add some peat in the planting holes for Rhoddies but I doubt it there's any peat left in the soil now...
Anyway, they seem to like it !

David Nicholson · « **Reply #217 on:** May 17, 2009, 07:18:15 PM »

They certainly do.

johnw · « **Reply #218 on:** October 03, 2009, 09:46:33 PM »

Rhododendron quinquefolium fall colour.

First photo after using a brush cutter for four hours non stop. Second taken when the shaking hand syndrome had calmed down.

johnw

johnw · « **Reply #219 on:** October 04, 2009, 03:34:06 AM »

And another reason.

R. thomsonii Ludlow & Sherriff #2847.

johnw

Ragged Robin · « **Reply #220 on:** October 04, 2009, 09:27:33 AM »

John, that bark colour is really great - I love the way Betula shows its colours too - but altogether i think the bark and trunks of trees are fascinating - thanks for showing - I would love to more about the rhododendron quinquefolium, whose fall colour is so intense

johnw · « **Reply #221 on:** October 04, 2009, 01:14:39 PM »

Quote from: Ragged Robin on October 04, 2009, 09:27:33 AM

John, that bark colour is really great - I love the way Betula shows its colours too - but altogether i think the bark and trunks of trees are fascinating - thanks for showing - I would love to more about the rhododendron quinquefolium, whose fall colour is so intense

Robin - R. quinquefolium is very slow to set flower buds. From seed it takes at least 10 years or more. I got my plant from the Rhododendron Species Foundation, it was a good size but took forever to have a flower. Someone asked the planstman Hideo Suzuki when it would flower and he said "corky bark, corky bark". Sure enough when the base of mine started to go corky I had the first flower. This species has dramatic bark in old age, corky and peeling. It would seem to need a bit more heat than we can cupply, still it grows on and the autumn colour is indeed exceptional. It will become almost tree like in its native Japan. The new foliage is spectacular, green with a red edging - just visible in this poor shot.

johnw

maggiepie · « **Reply #222 on:** October 04, 2009, 01:27:41 PM »

John, your Rhododendron quinquefolium is beautiful, such a brilliant red. The trunk and bark remind me of some gum trees, just wonderful.

johnw · « **Reply #223 on:** October 04, 2009, 01:44:24 PM »

Quote from: maggiepie on October 04, 2009, 01:27:41 PM

John, your Rhododendron quinquefolium is beautiful, such a brilliant red. The trunk and bark remind me of some gum trees, just wonderful.

Helen - Not many gum trees down this way!

... there are black gums and sweetgums around town but I guess they don't count.

The colour of quinquefolium in the fall is hard to define, sort of a smokey or matte red/pink, I think of crushed raspberries soaked into a white shirt.

johnw

Ragged Robin · « **Reply #224 on:** October 04, 2009, 02:38:39 PM »

Thanks John for your full description of R.quinquefolium - it sounds a wonderful Rhododendron and such an interesting story behind its flowering.

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