Rhododendron 2011

[David Nicholson]

I've been encouraged to post these pics here in case any of you Rhodophiles are able to put a name to my plant. It came to us as a "twig" in a 10cm pot over ten years ago and cost us 50p from a local market. Now, it is some 4' high (122cm) occupies a space around 3' 6" square.

[Maggi Young]

David, I think we may have commented on your excellent "cheapo" before.... I think it is likely the old hybrid 'Blue Diamond' but there are a few of this type, Blue Tit, Blue Sapphire, Blue Diamond are the oldest set and the most likely candidates. I'll vote for Blue Diamond and see what the others say!

[David Nicholson]

David, I think we may have commented on your excellent "cheapo" before.... I think it is likely the old hybrid 'Blue Diamond' but there are a few of this type, Blue Tit, Blue Sapphire, Blue Diamond are the oldest set and the most likely candidates. I'll vote for Blue Diamond and see what the others say!

Sorry Maggi, the old memory ain't what it was

[Hoy]

A plant magnifique, David!

Well, not blue of any kind and not very early either but this sutchuense (from seed) is soon ready to make a show

[Maggi Young]

David, it may not have been yours.... it may be my memory at fault... wouldn't be the first time!


Trond, always exciting when a seed raised plant makes its first flowers, isn't it? 

[johnw]

David, I think we may have commented on your excellent "cheapo" before.... I think it is likely the old hybrid 'Blue Diamond' but there are a few of this type, Blue Tit, Blue Sapphire, Blue Diamond are the oldest set and the most likely candidates. I'll vote for Blue Diamond and see what the others say!

Hmmm.  Difficult except to say but an augustinii hybrid with either impeditum or russatum.  These are horrors to identify especially as the colour is always off when photographed.  Not Sapphire but maybe Blue Tit or Blue Diamond, I lean to the former.  To complicate matters there are some saints down that way - not, of course, you David - like St. Tudy etc from Magor.  Not St. Merryn unless mine was mis-labelled.

Nice sutchuenense there Hoy. My it came on quickly. It will be a few weeks away here as still a tad chilly though the snow has been gone for a few weeks.

johnw

[Maggi Young]

It wasn't you, David, it was Graham C!
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=10.msg155236#msg155236


I'm sticking with 'Diamond', by the way! 

[Graham Catlow]

Ah Yes Maggi!!
That one again, that we didn't come to a conclusion on. Here it is today!
Along with 'Razorbill'

[Onion]

Graham,

I think you have the old German cultivar 'Azurwolke' in your garden. You have a fine example of this cultivar.

[Hoy]

Trond, always exciting when a seed raised plant makes its first flowers, isn't it? 

Maggi, it isn't the first flowers of the plant just the first flowers this year! if I remember rightly it is the 3rd flowering season but i am still waiting for the flowers to open fully, the spring is very slow this year.

[Maggi Young]

Graham,

I think you have the old German cultivar 'Azurwolke' in your garden. You have a fine example of this cultivar.

 Here in Aberdeen 'Azurwolke' is much later to flower

[johnw]

Graham - A smashing Razorbill you have there.  I wish it did as well here, I think it is on the edge here but always charms.

johnw

[Maggi Young]

Trond, always exciting when a seed raised plant makes its first flowers, isn't it? 

Maggi, it isn't the first flowers of the plant just the first flowers this year! if I remember rightly it is the 3rd flowering season but i am still waiting for the flowers to open fully, the spring is very slow this year.

Ah, I misunderstood you.  Your plant is lovely.

The first are exciting though, that's for sure.... I'm still waiting for the first flowers on my R. auriculatum...... it's been a long time coming and there is no sign that this summer will bring them... that's at least 26years of a wait so far..... !

[johnw]

I'm still waiting for the first flowers on my R. auriculatum...... it's been a long time coming and there is no sign that this summer will bring them... that's at least 26years of a wait so far..... !

Good grief Maggi, you are patient. R. auriculatum took 10-12 years here from seed and those are planted due east.  All are monstrously big now.   The one in full sun took about 10 years once planted out but languished in a pot for many years before that, and I might mention was labelled calophytum!

True calophytum is still not budded after about 21+ years, another brute of a thing. R. pronum on the other hand has not flowered after the age of two dogs, a friend's set buds very late one autumn but they failed to open.

Any buds on that proteoides yet?

johnw

[Hoy]

Trond, always exciting when a seed raised plant makes its first flowers, isn't it? 

Maggi, it isn't the first flowers of the plant just the first flowers this year! if I remember rightly it is the 3rd flowering season but i am still waiting for the flowers to open fully, the spring is very slow this year.

Ah, I misunderstood you.  Your plant is lovely.

The first are exciting though, that's for sure.... I'm still waiting for the first flowers on my R. auriculatum...... it's been a long time coming and there is no sign that this summer will bring them... that's at least 26years of a wait so far..... !

Thanks, Maggi. Could well be the other way around that I expressed myself poorly

I have an auriculatum that has flowered sparsely every other year for several years and it is not that old - 15 maybe.