Flowering bushes a lot. If you ask people living in different places, what plant they name would be the most attractive, the top ten will certainly fall Chernigiv, Cascara, drostan, scary and rosemary. And under all these names is hidden the well-known and beloved rhododendron. Spring blooming rhododendrons are striking for their decorative qualities. The basis of the kind of these ancient plants are more than 1000 types, which received approximately 12 thousand varieties. So different deciduous and evergreen, they invariably occupy the pride of place in our gardens and suburban areas.
The contents
Rhododendrons belong to the family Ericaceae. Depending on the variety, these different height shrubs may drop leaves or stay evergreen.
Low-growing varieties are most often used for decorating rock gardens, greenhouses and rock gardens. Usually these plants form flowering islets on the grass and they are planted singly, and in groups. The rhododendrons look good in mixed borders.
It is not surprising that most species of this plant are sources of honey. That’s just the honey produced from them is impossible – it is toxic
Depending on the species of plant, its stems may be pubescent or glabrous. The leaves differ not only in size but also in form. They can be sessile or attached to the branches with petioles. Often they are egg-shaped, can be leathery or pubescent.
The beauty of this shrub is concentrated in the flowers. They are not only bright, but also sweet, have a large Corolla is irregular in shape and comprise inflorescences in the form of a flap or umbrella. Sometimes the flowers are solitary, but always catchy and very beautiful. Striking in their diversity of colours from pure white to violet-purple. Rhododendrons delight red, yellow, purple and pink flowers.
Mountain varieties of plants
Mountain dope – those rhododendrons which grow high in the mountains. They are not too often found in our gardens. To successfully grow and bloom, they must pass a difficult period of acclimatization. However, dwarf varieties that reach only a meter in height, can be grown in the rock garden.
Most often used for this purpose Kamchatka, racemes, reddish, ravnovesie, canadian, tight, stiff and rusty rhododendrons. If the size of the rock garden, they can accommodate relatively tall plants that will surprise a variety, but always attractive colors. It is yellow and Japanese varieties, and also rhododendron Ledebour and shlippenbah.
Kamchatka deciduous shrub (Rh. сamtschaticum)
Kamchatka rhododendron reaches only 35 cm in height. It is found in the Kuriles, Kamchatka and Sakhalin, in Siberia. The plant has a rounded thin leaves up to 5 cm in length. It blooms in June large, 4 cm in diameter, flowers blood-red or purplish-pink color. They grow singly or in loose racemes 2-5 flowers. They are located on long stalks, covered with setae and hairs.
Especially beautiful Kamchatka rhododendron flowering period: he is a real decoration of the rock garden and garden. In its cultivated form is grown from the 1800s
This plant tolerates frost. Usual are shaded rocky areas with a fresh and loose humus. Kamchatka rhododendron is often used for group plantings and to create borders.
Beautiful Siberian rhododendron (Rh. ledebourii Pojark)
Siberian wild rosemary or maralnik locals call the rhododendron Ledebour. In nature it occurs in the Sayan mountains and Altai. This dry shrub in the cultivated species grows to 1-1. 80 meters in height.
This plant blooms very early, so its branches are often used for winter forcing. Its fairly large flowers smell of resin and have a lilac-pink color.
Rhododendron Ledebour called dry, because in winter, this plant retains most of its leaves. However, if the winter is dry and cold is given, the number of falling leaves can grow
The shrub grows in shady places, not windswept, but are characterized by high humidity. Siberian rhododendron often forms real thickets on the rocky banks of rivers and in the mountains. He prefers the neighborhood of cedar-deciduous and deciduous forests.
Fragrant Pontic Azalea (Rh. luteum, Azalea or ропtica)
The Pontic Azalea, the Turkish bagon and yellow stupor – they are all names of one and the same yellow rhododendron. It is a large plant with a height more than two meters.
In winter the leaves of Pontic Azalea (rhododendron yellow) fall off, and when in may they begin to bloom again, is amazingly beautiful flowering of this plant
Pontic Azalea will delight you with a large orange or yellow flowers reaching 5 cm in diameter. They are buds that look like a umbrella. Each umbrella can be 7 or even 12 flowers. A month, the shrub is covered with flowers, to fall they will start only in June. It grows in the mountainous terrain of the Caucasus and is sometimes found in Western Europe.
The Caucasian rhododendron (Rh. caucasicum)
In a cultural form, this shrub is grown only since 1803. It is an evergreen plant with leathery leaves, pointed at the ends. The Caucasus the rhododendron grows to 1.5 meters in height. In the wild it grows near the snow fields in the subalpine belt in the Caucasus.
Caucasian rhododendron looks good in borders, used in medicine. This plant planted throughout the European part of Russia up to St. Petersburg
Its flowers have a diameter of about 4 cm, according to the form they look like bells, or shallow crater. They are usually white or cream-coloured, may have slightly greenish spots on its inner surface. However, there are a pale pink variety and even form with pink flowers. Their ovaries, pedicels and calyx covered with hairs rust-colored. Flowers in racemes 8-12 pieces.
This shrub grows very slowly. Prefers shady and damp places. Therefore, in parks and gardens should be placed in moist and semidarkness corners. Used for both single and group plantings.
Daurian kind of plant (Rh. dahuricum)
A very beautiful rhododendron locals often called maralnik, a bagul or bagul’nik. Shoots of this plant in the winter can often be found on sale. Rosemary tolerates winter, blooms profusely and grows to a height of two meters. For the winter part of his leaves falls off, and the other part may remain for another year.
In nature, the rhododendron is found in the far East and in the Altai, in Eastern Siberia and Sayan
Old branches of this shrub are curved and have a gray color in contrast with brown young shoots. Its crown is decorated with single flowers are lilac-pink. They reach three inches in diameter. Flowers before the leaves appear or simultaneously with their occurrence. Its leaves have a strong odor.
This plant, unlike other shrubs species likes sun and can grow in dry area. If lighting is not enough, the flowering Bush is not as lush. In the culture of rosemary distributed up to the Kola Peninsula. In folk medicine, this plant is prized for it contained arbutin, essential oils and tannins.
«White wing» Tibet (Rh. adamsii Rehd)
Tibetan «White wing» often called low odorous shrub, rhododendron Adams. He grows up to 30-60 cm tolstolistyj leaves remain to winter on the branches. They have a pleasant aroma, a smooth surface and a small white bloom. Their back side covered with scales and has a grayish-brown color.
Thickets of rhododendron Adams are on mountainous rocky slopes, on rocks in the tundra, and sometimes in close proximity to the forest belt, in its upper part
Flowers pale pink, cream or bright pink, but without the purple tint. They are assembled with thick brush, having the form of a flap located at the tips of the branches. Blooming rhododendron Adams in mid-June. Its flowering lasts until the end of July. This plant likes a soil containing lime.
In nature, this shrub can be found in the far East and in Siberia. He prefers a continental climate conditions.
Golden Cascara (Rh. aureum Georgi)
Cascara Golden – prostrate shrub to 60 cm high. Its leaves have a shiny leathery surface. Their tops are pointed and the base like a wedge. To the branch they are attached by short petioles. Corolla of this plant in the diameter reaches 5 cm.
The shrub blooms in may-June and July-August, bearing fruit. Its flowers have the shape of a wide bell, have blades in the shape of an ellipse. They are collected in umbellate inflorescences of lush, and the color is really Golden yellow.
Shrub Golden Kashkari grows on Sakhalin, Kamchatka and throughout the Far East, it can be found in the South of Yakutia, Transbaikalia and Sayan, Altai
Usually Cascara forms dense thickets near the upper limit of forests. It is quite high – from 800 to 2000 meters above sea level in subalpine and Alpine zones. Since ancient times Golden Cascara used in folk medicine.
Evergreen uzkolisty types
Selection uzkolisty evergreen rhododendron produces nursery Weston (USA). This group brings together the most undemanding plants. Despite the modest living conditions, these bushes are so beautiful that they are called Alpine roses.
They grow slow. In the most favorable conditions their growth is not more than 6 cm, and in Central Russia they grow no more than 3 cm, but well branched. These rhododendrons are very nice, and their simplicity even legendary.
One of them tells of a time when the Bush rusty rhododendron actively lived and bloomed for over thirty years. Perhaps this is a plant that grows under the canopy of pine trees, wouldn’t draw attention to yourself, if one day the old pine tree is not cut down. The bushes continued to grow and blossom, despite the fact that the level of lighting has changed significantly. But for adult plants is a serious stress! However, he endured this ordeal.
Decorative rusty rhododendron (Rh. ferrugineum L.)
This shrub is characterized by low growth, only 70 cm, and branched crown, which reaches a diameter of 1 meter. It grows on the slopes of the Alps, Pyrenees and Apennines. Look for it at the height of 1500-2800 meters above sea level. He prefers leached limestone.
Crown rusty rhododendron spread, and its bark has a grayish-brown color. On top of his leathery ovate leaves are dark green, the lower side of the leaf covered with rust
This plant blooms in late June, later than other species. Its flowering period lasts about 30 days. The flower of this plant resembles hyacinth. Its flowers are inflorescences 6-10 each. They are not too large, have a diameter of only 2 cm, but attracted by its bright reddish-pink coloring. Meet and white copies.
The shrub tolerates frost, completely unpretentious, and very decorative. It grows very slowly grow over the year by only 3 cm It can grow on calcareous soils, if they are covered with a layer of humus, but prefers acidic. It is usually grown in the Alpine coaster and his group or even single landing will decorate the garden. It reproduces by seed, layering and division method of a Bush.
Stiff and evergreen (Rh. hirsutum)
The rhododendron emerges grows in parts of East and Middle Alps and in the mountains, which are located in the North-West of the former Yugoslavia. On open spaces of the mountainous terrain it forms thickets.
Located at an altitude of about 1200-1500 m above sea level, its shrubs come in woodlands. In nature, it often crosses over with rhododendron rusty, forming unpretentious hybrid.
Shoots slow-growing creeping shrub rhododendron stiff have a reddish color, but with age they turn grey
This plant can be grown in Central Russia, in the Northern regions, the Urals and the Altai, and the far East. It is easy to learn on «the cilia», which are located at the edges of the leaves. This shrub likes light, grows on slightly alkaline soils and limestone, is afraid of excessive moisture and can live up to 50 years.
Blooms of this evergreen shrub in June and July. Its flowers do not smell, have pink or white color and the shape of a bell. Each inflorescence is three to ten flowers. The flowers themselves come in a length of only 1.8 cm, but their pedicels are nearly twice as long.
Evergreen alcolista kind
All these rhododendrons come from China. In addition to small leaves, their distinctive feature is the annual growth of 1-3 cm and a loose crown. The reason for such differences experts believe the specifics of solar activity in the growing region.
Attractive (Rh. keleticum)
No wonder this rhododendron has been called attractive. In June, it is very beautiful blooms during the 18 days of large purple-violet flowers. This creeping shrub has a crown with a diameter of just 40 cm, and it reaches a height of 15 cm It tolerates cold and survives under the snow. Afraid this plant is only one – waterlogging.
For the successful development of the attractive rhododendrons need moist but well-drained slightly acidic soil. For Alpine it is a real godsend
A group of dense rhododendron (Rh. impeditum)
The name rhododendron dense is called the whole group of plants that grow in the bushes of small size, resembling a pillow. After planting this shrub comes to life and bloom of individual flowers, but already obzhivshis in a new place, pleasing their owners rich and long flowering.
This group of plants does not like waterlogging, takes good sun and has different hardiness, depending on varietal facilities.
Selections of rhododendrons dense actively engaged experts from Germany and the Czech Republic. And the results of their work truly pleasing Russian gardeners
Decorative reddish (Rh. russatum)
Homeland blushing rhododendron is the province of Yunnan (China). This plant also forms a cushion height of up to meter and 80 cm in diameter. Reddish this species is named, most likely due to a reddish-brown underside of its lanceolate leaves.
Growing rhododendron reddish in acidic, moist but well-drained soils, and well accustomed to the rock garden and the gardens of Russia
The plant blooms in early may deep purple flowers with a white throat. They do not smell and are showy inflorescences 4-5 flowers in each. This slow growing shrub likes sun light, it tolerates winter cold.
Large-leaved evergreen species
These varieties known to the breeder for over a hundred years. They feel good in Russia and distributed throughout our country. They are very decorative and are deservedly popular with gardeners.
In this category I would like to highlight catawbiense view (Rh. catawbiense). The birthplace of this hardy evergreen rhododendron is in North America. Thanks katerinska mind was started hybridization of rhododendrons.
Bush this plant can reach 4 meters in height. Sometimes this is not a shrub, but a whole six-meter tree, with long leaves and large flowers up to 15 cm in diameter. In the period of its flowering, the plant is covered with stunning lilac-purple flowers similar to bells.
Catawbiense rhododendron is widely distributed in the mountainous terrain of North Carolina by the river Catawba. On behalf of the river it got its name
This rhododendron tolerates shade, but prefers richly illuminated area. It grows on acidic rich soils that are well drained. In the culture is from 1809, is widely used in group and single plantings.
Rhododendrons are very diverse. There are many hybrid varieties, there are rare species that need protection, since the nature began to meet less and less. But all these plants have one thing in common – they are invariably attractive, unpretentious and deserve the most careful attitude. And then they will become the wonderful decoration of any garden.
Marvel at the collection of rhododendrons and azaleas collected in the garden Leonardslee:
