In the Northwest, over the last two decades, rhododendrons have become “everyman’s” shrubs. Gardeners in the Southwest are deprived of their beautiful flowers and the textural interest they create in the garden because they are not culturally suited to the area. The rhododendron family includes the azaleas (not treated here), and the species and named … Read more
On a recent trip abroad, I was privileged to see hundreds of rhododendrons and azaleas, most of which are unknown to the gardens of New England. These are species from the oriental hinterlands, and hybrids have been produced from there. Grown in England, Scotland, and Wales, they are mostly too tender for our cold climate, … Read more
“The purple petals, fallen in the pool,Make the black water, with their beauty gay,Here might the red-bird come, his plumes to cool,And court the flower that cheapens his array,Rhodora, if the sages ask thee whyThis charm is wasted on earth and sky.Tell them, dear, that if eyes were made for seeing,Then beauty is its own … Read more
Rhododendrons are among the most practical and most beautiful of all evergreen shrubs. This huge group of plants is so varied and versatile. They have a much wider variety of purposes in the landscape than the average gardener realizes. The popular conception of Rhododendrons is – they are large shrubs with big evergreen leaves and … Read more
Over a century ago, the word “rhododendron” was a name touched with magic, conjuring up images of mansions framed in priceless shrubberies, the utmost in beauty and exclusiveness. Today that magic is slowly fading from the name. What has happened? A wild shrub, Rhododendron maximum, with leaves resembling garden rhododendrons but with ungraceful stalks and … Read more
The Pacific Northwest is natural rhododendron country. In that narrow belt along the Pacific slope running from Vancouver and Victoria to San Francisco, the winters are tempered by warm waters. The air is moist year-round, there is very little extreme summer heat, and the soil is naturally acid. All this adds up to a perfect … Read more
Summary: Many in the Northwest limit Rhododendrons in their garden to just a few plants – Why? There are many smaller varieties for even the small landscape. Why limit rhododendrons in your garden to one or two majestic plants? With the many new dwarf-to-medium-sized varieties now available it’s possible to enjoy numerous specimens of the Northwest’s … Read more
When it comes to Rhododendrons, amateur gardeners are eager to learn various techniques for growing these plants. Methods of increase are cuttings, air layering, grafting, layering, and raising plants from seed. Except for grafting, these methods can work for the home gardener who wants to increase his stock of choice kinds. For the specialist, the … Read more