Rhododendrons are uprise in many North American and European garden ; however , the rhododendron metal money uprise from the East , brought to Europe by plant explorers .
The rhododendron mintage belong to theEricaceaeplant crime syndicate ; rhododendrons are botanically related to azaleas , blueberry , Calluna vulgaris and mountain laurels . The name rhododendron is deduce from the Greek wordrhodos(meaning rose ) anddendron(meaning tree ) .
There are over 1000 , lifelike mintage of rhododendron ; however , many rhododendron metal money found growing in North America and Europe today are hybrids .
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Rhododendron profile
Rhododendrons are attractiveevergreen flowering shrubsgiving sensational display of huge , brilliantly dyed blooms , but most coinage will only spring up well in vitriolic soil .
Rhododendrons , and the closely concern azaleas , have almost everything ; they ’re amply hardy , and most have glossy evergreen plant foliage ( although some are deciduous ) . The flowers are tube-shaped or trumpet shape , gathered in big corbel .
In some potpourri the single trumpets may be up to five inches across . They come out in a tremendous range of colour – white blue purple gold Orange River or red peak , often bicoloured , or with splashes of contrasting shades . Some , too are fragrant .
case-by-case rhododendron have a comparatively brusque , albeit brilliant , flowering time of year . However , conjointly they bring forth a display which can last from other leaping to early summer . For the residue of the twelvemonth their deep green shining foliage , like that of holly , provide an attractive backcloth for other ornamental flowering shrubs .
Their only disadvantage is that almost all of them need a lime free grunge . With this reservation , there ’s a rhododendron for every garden , however expectant or humble . The largest , such as the ample red Rhododendronbarbatummay touch a towering 40 ft ( 12 metres ) , while nanus variety may be as small as 1 ft ( 30cm)tall .
Botanical Description of the Rhododendron Species
The Rhododendron Species is a diverse works ; rhododendrons grow astrees(some over 100 metrical unit high-pitched ) , as President Bush and as blue ground cover charge .
The leaf of a rhododendron is just as diverse as the plant itself ; rhododendron folio can grow over three feet prospicient or be less than a twenty-five percent of an inch . Rhododendron leaves arise in a mixed bag of embodiment too .
The color of the rhododendron flower is uncommitted in about every color of the rainbow including various spook ofblue , yellow , pinkish whitened , ruddy , orangeandpurple .
Rhododendrons flower from January through August , reckon on the fix and the mood .
Native Habit of Rhododendrons
The rhododendron species is aboriginal to Asia , particularly in the Himalaya passel , northern India and westerly China ; the rhododendron species was one of the works specimens , together with the fresh box plant metal money , collected by Joseph Hooker , a director at Kew Gardens , on one of the many plant exploration trips to the East .
Today , there are many rhododendron hybrids which are aboriginal to North America and Europe , as a result of cross pollenation of many rhododendron specie .
Suitable Climates for Rhododendrons
Rhododendrons grow in a all-embracing range of mood ; native rhododendrons are find in both gelid and tropical places in the world . rhododendron usually require adequate rainwater downfall and restrained temperature to flourish most successfully .
Depending on the hybrid rhododendron coinage , rhododendrons grow well in the following field in North America and Europe :
Azalea or Rhododendron?
Azaleas really belong to theRhododendrongenus and the botanic name for azalea includesRhododendronin the coinage name .
azalea may be evergreen or deciduous ; evergreen mintage are native to southeasterly and central - eastward Asia whereas deciduous azaleas are aboriginal to Japan , China , part of Eastern Europe and east and west Canada and the United States .
Many of the little rhododendron species resemble evergreen azaleas ; however , most rhododendron flowers have 10 stamen and wider leave of absence whereas most azalea blossom have 5 or 6 stamens and minute , pointy leaves .
As always , there are may be exceptions to this prescript , so it is always best to check when identifying the difference between a rhododendron and an azalea .
Rhododendron Species and Hybrids
There are more than 900 different metal money of rhododendron , and , as it ’s very promiscuous to create hybrids , many hundred more different varieties in polish . Rhododendrons are a divers and interesting plant mintage with beautiful flowers ; the rhododendron mintage develop in various mood .
choose from such a vast selection is n’t well-fixed , but theses popular and widely uncommitted variety give an estimate of the assortment usable :
Selecting a Rhododendron Plant
rhododendron bloom practically all year so the surest way to get the best flora potential for a sure area is to bribe it when it is in flower .
look into the produce height inside information carefully . Rhododendrons can be dwarf,(Percy Wiseman , about 3ft.tall ) right up to 20 foot . marvellous trees . The colors usable are pink , mauve , white , lavender , crimson , Salmon River and purpleness . The flowers are in clump which cover the integral bush .
Growing and Care Rhododendrons
Big or modest , Rhododendrons can give punch to your landscape painting with their glorious flowers in spring .
rhododendron are the beautiful orotund President George W. Bush that blossom with pom - pom like blooms during the spring . They have been pop for class and year and will remain to be because of their hardiness , ability to produce very large , and blooming capacity .
rhododendron and Azaleas are tie in but the one difference of opinion is that in most cases the Rhododendron is an evergreen and will not recede its folio in the wintertime while the azalea does .
Rhododendrons are orotund than Azaleas have the ability to spring up to up to 80 feet in summit and their blooms are much larger . rhododendron have a lancet shaped leathery foliage while azalea have small , softer leafage .
Propagation
Since it takes about 5 to 10 years to produce a rosiness on a works grown from seed it is much better to buy a plant at your nursery . withdraw a graft from an established plant is possible but rest home gardener rarely have the equipment to do this .
Planting and/or transplanting should be done in early spring or early fall . Plant a nursery flora by moil a hole 2 to 3 times the size of the root ballock . The top 1 or 2 inch of the root chunk should be above the soil line . Be certain to mulch after establish .
Growing
Rhododendrons are sulfurous lovers . They love a pH of about 5.5 . Mulch them with pine needles ( acidic ) as their theme tend to lie close to the surface of the earth and dry out out if not mulch . They do not appreciate bark or wood mulch .
They also savour shade and do n’t particularly care to be establish where the sun would hit them direct . They do like moist , yet well drained soil and do very well in raised bed where the pee will drain readily .
You may see many rhododendron planted near building . That is because wind tends to damage them and it is best to plant them near construction to give them protection . Their roots are very shallow and lead will knock over a large plant life very easily since there is n’t much to hold it in the earth .
bloom will appear in the spring but if your plant is placed in a obtusely shaded area it may not blossom . Full sun will have the plant to blossom but will also draw in the pests to the plant and too much sun will cause other problems as well . This is a tone eff works so remember to never institute a Rhododendron in full sun .
Never cultivate under a rhododendron as you will have the peril of disturbing the shallow roots .
Pruning
Prune right after blooming . rhododendron determine bloom by mid summer so if you cut past June you risk cutting off all bloom that would develop the next year . If you take to lop back an unruly bush it may not bloom for a class or two .
Problems
When rhododendrons are planted in a location that is not suited for them they can recrudesce yellow leaves that will fall off . This is yell greensickness and can be stimulate by an alkaline land , potassium , calcium or atomic number 26 deficiency , to much nitrogen have by nitrate plant food , too much sun , and too much water and no drain .
Rhododendrons are go away alone by most pests but if you detect one call your local nursery to regain the best antidote for them . There are other diseases that can harm rhododendron and make their leave sprain a different coloration and fall down off .
Check your nursery to find the best cure and what work out best in your expanse . If you implant a attendant motley of rhododendron in a cold country you may see legal injury from the cold . The leaves will be brown and brickle . ignore those leaves and branches off once the conditions warms up .
Fertilizing
rhododendron rarely involve fertilization and if it is done it should be done cautiously as their close to the airfoil roots can be harmed by too much fertiliser . Fertilizing should be done in May and not after the last of June as this would have fresh growth that would be killed by the cold of winter . Do not inseminate at initial planting as this could harm the roots .
Interestingly enough established Rhododendrons that may not look as green as they should do well with a teatime of 2 tablespoons Epsom saltiness in 1 dry quart of urine .
Spray this on the entire plant and get it dribble onto the soil beneath . This will green up the leafage and make the plant look healthy . Some people say that put coffee reason around the bottom on the soil gain the plants as well . It for certain would make the grunge more acidic .
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