Rhododendrons 2016

[TC]

David
I was in Plymouth twice last month and stayed in Cawsand for a night. We had hoped to look in on Mt.Edgcumbe to see the camellias on the way to the Torpoint ferry, but the weather was vile with a visibility of about 100 yards so we missed out on that.

[David Nicholson]

David
I was in Plymouth twice last month and stayed in Cawsand for a night. We had hoped to look in on Mt.Edgcumbe to see the camellias on the way to the Torpoint ferry, but the weather was vile with a visibility of about 100 yards so we missed out on that.

Just a normal day here Tom! Mount Edgcumbe will be on our RADAR as soon as we get anything that remotely looks a reasonable day.

[birck j c]

Hej Thorklid

Any indument on foliage
and how many lobes in the flower

birck

[Robert]

A few Rhododendrons from our Sacramento garden.



Rhododendron johnstoneanum x moupinense

This hybrid is cold hardy in our garden except for the flower buds. I have always protected the flower buds every winter so that they were not winter killed. This winter I did nothing -  the best flowering every, and the winter was somewhat cold. Go figure. 



Rhododendron pubescens

Surprisingly drought, heat, and sun tolerant. This plant is also a very compact and tidy grower considering the species.



Rhododendron scabrifolium var. spiceferum



Another view of the same species. Another tough, relatively drought tolerant species. It is very tolerant of heat and the hot California sun too. A very leggy grower - best cut back right after blooming for the best appearance and plenty of flowers for next season.

We also grow R. scabrifolium up at our El Dorado County farm. Its character is the same as above, however the flowers are white with a flush of pink. Both R. pubescens and scabrifolium have bristle-like, hairy foliage that is attractive.

[Thorkild Godsk]

Rhododendron.

Hello Birck. Thanks for the answer, I think there are 6-7 lobes, to be sure, I must wait until April when it blooms.

Thorkild

[Robert]

Rhododendron mallotum (or something close to it) blooming in the garden up at the farm. I grew this plant from seed - started in 1987 (? maybe earlier). This is the first time this plant has bloomed. This plant seems like it has been through enough over the years!    Drought, branches broken by snow load, and too much neglect the past few seasons. It is a complete water hog, however now that it is blooming I will try to keep it going - drought or no drought. The flowers and the foliage are very attractive. 

[David Nicholson]

Lovely set of Rhododendron Robert. I keep a few in pots, plenty of buds but a bit early for flowers yet.

[fermi de Sousa]

Rhododendron mallotum (or something close to it) blooming in the garden up at the farm. I grew this plant from seed - started in 1987 (? maybe earlier). This is the first time this plant has bloomed... It is a complete water hog, however now that it is blooming I will try to keep it going - drought or no drought...

That's a gorgeous flower - worth the wait! Congrats,
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Lovely set of Rhododendron Robert. I keep a few in pots, plenty of buds but a bit early for flowers yet.

Thank you David. As the garden evolves growing some of the smaller Rhododendrons in tubs will be my strategy. This is more work hand watering, but it will save water. Clearly some of the larger Rhododendrons, such as R. mallotum, I intend on keeping in the ground.    The poor plant may be misshaped, but the foliage is beautiful all year.    and where it's placed it has never burned. 

I look forward to seeing some of your Rhododendrons in bloom.

Thank you Fermi. Very much worth the wait!

[Maggi Young]

(Attachment Link)

Rhododendron mallotum (or something close to it) blooming in the garden up at the farm. I grew this plant from seed - started in 1987 (? maybe earlier). This is the first time this plant has bloomed. This plant seems like it has been through enough over the years!    Drought, branches broken by snow load, and too much neglect the past few seasons. It is a complete water hog, however now that it is blooming I will try to keep it going - drought or no drought. The flowers and the foliage are very attractive. 

 Beautiful - worth waiting for, Robert. You've beaten my own record of  waiting  nearly thirty years for the first flowers on Rh. auriculatum. I hope that  now your plant has begun to flower it will delight you with lots of flowers each year!   

[Robert]

30 years is a record I do not want to break again, however, yes indeed, it was worth the wait. 

[Gabriela]

Very beautiful! Good encouragement for growing rhodos from seeds 

[johnw]

Very beautiful! Good encouragement for growing rhodos from seeds 

But Robert did get a hybrid rather than the straight species he thought he was getting.  The odds of getting somethung this good is somewhat akin to one's chances at the weekly Lotto.

john

[Gabriela]

But Robert did get a hybrid rather than the straight species he thoiught he was getting.  The odds of getting this good is somewhat akin to one's chances at the weekly Lotto.
john

You're right, and considering I'm the kind of person that never wins anything....      In truth I only want to start from seeds R. myrtifolium from the Carpathian Mts. I read somewhere that it may flower in 7-8 years? and it would be the true species 100%.

[johnw]

Not to worry, we are all in the same boat with rhodo seeds and lottos.  The late flowering of myrtifolium should rule out any stray pollination from other species. Might have a bit ofr tolerance for higher pH ().

john