Rhododendron mucronulatum?

[Stephenb]

I have seed propagated Rhododendron mucronulatum in my garden, at least that's what I got it as. It's now been flowering for about 3 years and is less than 20cm tall. Is it this or something else?

[johnw]

Stephen  - Yes it is.  This is R. mucronulatum v. taguettii, once known here simply as 'Cheju' from a seed collection on Cheju Island, Korea by Warren Berg about 30 or more years ago.  There is another dwarf form from Hokkaido called v. ciliatum and that name seems to be only found in Davidian's book.

I assume yours is dwarf, quite unlike the tall lanky type form with narrow leaves.

johnw

[Stephenb]

Excellent, thanks - that's what was confusing me as pictures on the net were indicating a much bigger plant!

I've just checked my notes and the seed came from the Bergen Botanics Index Seminum; Ex- Cheju-Bo, Kola 1700m! I'll correct Kola to Korea!

[Lesley Cox]

My seed came from JW himself and I have three forms, one labelled as "dwarf" so I hope it stays at 20 cms after a few years. Then there are these, no flowers yet, just babies entering their first winter outside. I have 50! Are they deciduous John and will they lose these lovely leaves or will the red turn back to brownish green as before? Not good photos with the sun coming in almost horizontally by now. Your seedlings of the different R. camtschatcense forms went wonderful scarlet too.

As you see from the moss, it's pretty wet around here at present though we have had a beautiful autumn and very little rain over the last 6 weeks.

[johnw]

Trond - Here are the three leaf types of mucronulatum up close

1 mucronulatum type
2 mucronulatum v. taguetti (aka Cheju, 'Cheju Island' - a selected form)
3 mucronulatum v. ciliatum (pinks and red ones too

Well done with the seeds there Lesley!  True mucronulatum will be completely deciduous in winter, any everygreen ones - barely by the way and at the tips - will indicate a cross with R. dauricum. 

Having said that if we have an extremely mild winter or if snow comes before a very hard freeze straight mucronulatum seedlings will retain a few leaves but sluff them immediately in early spring.  We see the same in Hydrangea petiolaris volunteer seedlings!  When they get older and more sensible they shed their hair leaves.   

Many locals have problems growing mucronulatum and dauricum. A sunny dryish - or should I say super well-drained spot  - suits them best.  They're almost scree plants.

johnw