Rhododendron for the show bench

[Lawrence]

Can anyone please recommend any dwarf Rhodos suitable for the show bench and where i might buy them, I currently only grow R. Curlew which has been superb and would like to try a few more

[Maggi Young]

Glendoick  is my favourite source - but there are other Rhododendron specialist of course and some of the specialist alpine nurseries  like Ardfearn, Edrom, Hartside,  Aberconwy etc will also have some little rhodos that will prove to be good show plants.

There are a good number of little hybrids  but many judges do favour a  species.
R. keleticum, impeditium,  campylogynum, nivale, pemakoense , lepidotum,  the Ledum/Rhododendrons such as groenlandicum,  Rhodora canadense, sargentianum, cephalanthum..... all come to mind as  ones we had success with in the past.

Hybrids like  Egret, Merganser,  Rose Elf, Wren, Plover,  Sarled and Maricee - two  crackers, those -  how's that for a starting list?  You'll notice a predominance of Cox'es bird-named hybrids in there !

[Lawrence]

Thanks Maggi, that's very helpful, I am feeling under the weather and not terribly active today, so will give me chance to do my homework

[Maggi Young]

Get well soon Lawrence 

[TC]

Lawrence.
One thing that has to be established is what is meant by "dwarf"in rhododendron terms.  In my time I have bought what were termed as dwarf rhododendrons.
Blue Diamond comes to mind.  I bought this as a"dwarf" about 20 years ago.  It is now 4 feet high by five feet wide.
The best advice is to look at the web sites for Glendoick, Burncoose, Millais or even look in your local garden centres.  I used to wait until the flowering season was over and buy the plants at knock-down prices.  Joe public are only interested in plants in full bloom.  When the flowering is over, they don't want them !
Patty Bee and Ginny Gee are two worth having.  They stay compact for many years and never fail to flower.

Another point to consider is flowering time.  Depending on the plant and the season, a few may not flower until the shows are finished.  So, if you wish to show, it is probably advisable to go for varieties that normally flower in April.. Even if they are late you could still make a May show.
Maggie mentioned Sarled.  The accompanying pictures show this.  It never flowers for me, in Ayr, until the first week in May.  This year it is about two weeks late.
It is totally hardy and takes winter gales and lashing rain in its stride and has the added bonus of a resin scented perfume.
My plant is about 7 years old and approx. 3 feet wide.

[johnw]

Tom  - Ginny Gee gets big here, there are plenty about 3-4ft wide by 2fth.  My Wren is 3.5ft across though only a few inches high. 

I have 2 impeditums about 1.5ft across  x 6" high that are 42 years old though at a nursery here there's one from the early 60's 4ft x 1.5ft.  Shame on you Shelagh, speedy recovery Brian we're all thinking of you.

john ; )

[DaveM]

In the past I have shown Rhododendron primuliflorum 'Doker La' which did well for me - bit large now through but still very floriferous. Also, R. keiskei 'Yaku Fairy'. Both I think obtained from Glendoick.

[johnw]

R. primuliforum Deep Pink and Namaiense from Glendoick in 2000 are close to a meter high already! And in full flower here.

R. cephalanthum v. crebreflorum has stayed very small and the true AM Starling 'Yaku Fairy' would be a great choice.  How about campylogynum Myrtilloides?

john