Rhododendrons are considered very popular plants in the design of landscape design, as a flowering shrub easily turns any garden into a spectacular green island. A positive point of breeding rhododendrons is a fairly large number of frost-resistant varieties of this plant, which can easily survive the average winters.
Rhododendron Smirnova
Rhododendron Smirnova - an evergreen frost-resistant bush differing in a magnificent form. It reaches a height of 1.5 meters, and the inflorescences are collected in beautiful buds of light pink color with yellow specks. Young branches of the plant are covered with whitish pubescence, while on old branches the bark of the standard color is gray.
The leaves of this frost-resistant rhododendron have an oblong-elliptical shape, with a blunt tip, a more narrowed base and a slightly rolled edge. From above, they are green and shiny, and from below they are ragged-white-white, sometimes brownish. The scape reaches 1-1.5 cm in length.
The composition of the inflorescence includes 10-14 flowers, with a diameter of 12-15 cm. Funnel-shaped corolla, naked (or almost naked) purple-pink color with yellowish spots. The fruit of rhododendron is presented in the form of an oblong box up to 2 cm long.
The plant can withstand temperatures as low as -26 ... -29 ° С, but in very harsh winters, shoots ends and flower buds can freeze slightly. Seeds ripen.
For the successful cultivation of this species on its territory it is necessary to provide him with certain conditions. In particular, One of the main requirements is a moderately moist soil with an acidic reaction (pH = 3.5-4) and a sufficient amount of light, on which the shape of the crown depends (in the shade it is more vertical, while in sunny places the bush is compact).
Smirnov rhododendron is propagated by layering, seed and grafting on the Pontic rhododendron.
Did you know? This species was introduced into culture in 1886 by the botanical garden of St. Petersburg and named after the Russian doctor and plant connoisseur M. Smirnov.
Rhododendron is golden
If we talk about rhododendron, considering in detail the existing frost-resistant species and varieties, then we can not pay attention to the golden shrub, reaching a height of 30-60 cm. .
Leaves belong to the category of evergreens, have an elliptical shape and slightly wrapped on the edge. In length they reach 2.5-8 cm, and in width - 1-2.5 cm. Below the foliage of rhododendron is golden-pale, wedge-narrowed at the base, and the petioles are 4-5 times shorter than the leaf plates. Seen from above, you see dense, bare, dark green leaves.
The flowers of this rhododendron largely explain its name because they have a golden yellow color. (their length reaches 2.5-3 cm, with a diameter of 4-5 cm). They are collected in umbellate inflorescences of 3-10 pieces. The rim is almost half incised into rounded, egg-shaped lobes.
Pedicels are characterized by a reddish color and long, which is almost one and a half times the length of the flowers themselves. They come out from the elliptical sinuses or from the ovate fluffy scales that cover the flowers in the bud.
The fruits of golden rhododendron are cylindrical boxes with a length of 1-1.5 cm and a diameter of 4-6 mm. You can see the flowers of a plant not earlier than May and no later than June, and most often it occurs in mountainous areas: in the Sayan Mountains, on Sakhalin, the Northern Kuriles, in the Far East or in Altai.
Did you know? In Siberia, the golden rhododendron is called "kashkara", in Tofalaria - "yellow kashkara" or "ulug kakkara", and in Mongolia - "Altan Terelzh".
Rhododendron katevbinsky
Among the most attractive rhododendron species should be highlighted Katevbinsky (beauty is in the top ten). This is a fairly large shrub 2-4 or even 6 meters high, which annually adds about 10 cm in height. It differs in a semi-circular dense crown, the diameter of which in an adult bush often reaches 2 m (with proper care). The bark is brown, the leaves are ellipsoidal, 6–15 cm long and 5 cm wide. In its upper part, the foliage is dark green, shiny, and lighter with clear veins from below.
Flowers of a plant with a look remind bells and can be white, lilac-purple, light-violet or violet-red shades. They can not be called small, because in length such flowers reach 6 cm. The inflorescence includes up to 20 pieces, so that the bush looks very elegant.
As in the previous versions, the fruits are represented by boxes that ripen by October. This plant can be called a long-liver as the age of the “old-timers” reaches 100 years.
In most cases, the Katevbinsky rhododendron is planted near benches, gazebos or pathways, which helps to create colorful compositions. It also looks beautiful next to perennial and ornamental plants with a dense crown (for example, pine or thuja).
This species carries a good shadow, but it is better to plant it in well-lit, sunny places. The scattered light under the canopy of a tree or the shadow formed from the wall of the house will also fit. But in the latter case, you need to be ready for not very abundant flowering.
When planting katevbinsky rhododendron, it is necessary to choose a place without drafts and draining winds. The soil should be sufficiently moist, loose, rich in organic trace elements, acidic or slightly acidic. Peat mixed with sand or pine sawdust can be used. As for feeding, young plants need it after flowering and in early spring, and for adults it will be enough to fertilize once a season.
Despite the fact that this species belongs to frost-resistant plants, in the northern regions it is still worth taking care of the frame shelter for the winter period, especially for young shrubs.
Canadian Rhododendron
The Canadian rhododendron is a deciduous, undersized representative of the genus, which does not exceed 1 m in height (1.2 m wide). It has smooth branches, oblong oval or narrow-lanceolate leaves, up to 6 cm long (from above they are slightly hairy, and below are densely hairy). The edges of the leaves are slightly twisted, dull-bluish-green above and gray below.
The shoots are thin, while they are young - they have a bright yellowish-red tint, but become grayish-brown with age, often with a touch. The flowers are collected in inflorescences of 3-7 pieces and bloom before the leaves appear. The corolla is purple-violet or pinkish-purple, two-lipped, and because of the cut, it seems that it consists of petals.
The flowering of shrubs begins at the age of three and is observed in May-June.
The fruit is the same boll, only in this case, the seeds are small and numerous (fruiting begins at 4-5 years of age, and the seeds ripen in September-October).
In the wild, it grows in river valleys, in wetlands and in open swamps, in coniferous and mixed forests, as well as in open rocky areas.
Important! This is one of the few deciduous species of rhododendron, whose range goes far to the north (the Canadian rhododendron quietly tolerates lowering the temperature to -32 ° C).
It is recommended to plant the plant on the edges and on rocky areas in loose, moist and slightly acidic soil (pH 5.1-6.4). This species grows relatively quickly, adding 6-8 cm annually.
Rhododendron yellow
A very polymorphic species, due to which some authors distinguish certain varieties that differ from each other in the character of pubescence and the shape of the leaves.
Yellow rhododendron is a deciduous rather branched shrub, reaching 2-4 meters in height. If growth conditions are favorable, then it can grow up to 6 meters in the transverse direction. Young shoots - glandular-shaggy, leaves - oblong, ovate, oblong-lanceolate or oblong-elliptic. Their length is 4-12 cm, width 1.5-8 cm, and the length of the petioles - 5-7 mm.
The flowers are collected in 7-12 umbellate flaps and are located on pedicels 1-2 cm long. The corolla of orange or yellow color is 3-5 cm long and about 5 cm in diameter. It has a funnel-shaped shape and a narrow cylindrical tube extended in the upper part.
The fruit is a box of oblong cylindrical shape with a length of 1.5-2.5 cm.
The flowering of rhododendron yellow can be observed in April-June, either before the appearance of the leaves, or simultaneously with their appearance. Fruiting begins in August. With regard to the conditions of cultivation and care of this plant, it should be noted that it is light-requiring and rather demanding on moisture and soil composition.
In the period of flowering and in the fall, when the leaves acquire rich bright colors, this is a very beautiful ornamental plant. The standard form is well suited for edges and groups, and numerous garden options can be planted in both single and group plantings in the foreground in gardens and parks.
Japanese Rhododendron
Japanese view - is a frost-resistant rhododendron, which belongs to deciduous heavily branched shrubs, native to Northern and Central Japan. The plant reaches a height of 1-2 meters (annual growth of 7–9 cm), and is 1.2 m wide. Crohn’s is sprawling, and very thick at a young age.
The leaves are thin, oblong-lanceolate and reach a length of 4-10 cm (with a width of 2-4 cm). They have a wedge-shaped base and a sharp end, and when deployed, soft-bristly hairs can sometimes be seen. From below, pubescence is observed only along the veins, and on the edge of the leaves are ciliate, gradually tapering and turning into the petiole (the length of this part is 0.5-1 cm).
Young shoots can be bare, and can be covered with silvery bristle walkways. Quite large flowers are collected in inflorescences of 6-12 pieces and, as in the previous case, bloom either up to the leaves or at the same time as the leaves. The rims of the Japanese rhododendron are velvety outside and can be very diverse in terms of color. You can find orange-red, pinkish or brick-red specimens with a yellow-orange spot, with a diameter of 6-8 cm. Also known are yellow forms of this species with golden-yellow flowers. The duration of flowering shrubs - more than a month.
The yellow form of this species with golden yellow flowers is known. It tolerates the sun. In autumn, the leaves turn yellow-purple.
The fruits are presented in the form of boxes and ripen in September-October. The plant reproduces equally well with both seeds and cuttings (72% of cuttings take root when processed with special growth stimulants).
This winter hardy rhododendron is able to withstand low temperatures down to -26 ° C and is recommended for single and group plantings. From the decorative point of view, it is most effective in combination with other types of rhododendrons, especially dark-leaved rocks.
Caucasian rhododendron
Caucasian rhododendron - Another frost-resistant member of the family. The plant reaches a height of 1-1.5 m and is characterized by a lying dark brown stem.
The leaves are oblong and have an oval shape. Bottom they are covered with thick short red felt.
The flowers are collected in umbellate inflorescences, the corolla reaches 3 cm in length, yellowish white with green or reddish dots in the throat. The color of the corolla can vary greatly from pure white to pale cream or pale pink. Species with pink flowers are often found in the Elbrus region.
Plant box - oblong, rust-felt.
The Caucasian rhododendron is a honey plant, which in the conditions of the mountains and on the open slopes plays the role of a landowner. Often used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and rheumatism.
Extensive plantations of this plant are located on the territory of the Republic of Abkhazia and in the mountains of the Main Caucasian Range. As for home cultivation, then its hybrids are more used. The most famous variety is Cunningham's White, the main feature of which is absolutely white flowers. Other hybrids are pink, golden yellow, speckled and without it.
All of them are quite capricious in the issue of cultivation and have special requirements for the composition of the soil. They are not suitable sour (pH 4-5), downed soil, devoid of good air and water permeability. The most suitable soils exist only above the central zone of Russia, while the southern regions are generally not suitable.
Helliki's Rhododendron
Helliki variety rhododendron - These are compact plants with pink-red flowers, which are collected in brushes of 8-12 pieces. Flowering begins in mid-June, but for the most effective manifestation of the decorative properties of the plant it is necessary to create comfortable conditions, part of which are loose and moist soils, as well as shading landing sites, protected from the wind.
The underside of the leaves is supplemented with thick pubescence, more similar to felt, which, however, does not distinguish this species from other types of rhododendrons. The buds are lowered, and the flowers can be called funnel-shaped. They are distinguished by a rich purple-red color with red-orange splashes on the upper petal (5.5-7 cm) and slightly wavy edges.
Important! Helliki rhododendron is a hybrid of Smirnov rhododendron.
For a full bookmark flower buds for the next year, you need to remove all wilted buds.
Daurian rhododendron
Daurian rhododendron is a deciduous or evergreen shrub, which for the most part is common in Asia. This species got its name from Dauria (Daur land), named after the territory of Transbaikalia where the Dauri lived.
In Russia, this shrub has another name - "rosemary". It reaches 0.5-2 m in height and is decorated with a thick crown, formed from protruding shoots. Young shoots are thin, collected at the ends of the branches in several pieces and have a rust-brown color, with short pubescence. The root system is superficial, flat. The leaves are oval, rounded at the end, painted in a glossy dark green color. Below they are scaly and paler.
The length of the leaf is from 1.3 to 4 cm, and the width ranges from 0.5 to 1 cm. Foliage appears on the shoots at the end of the flowering shrub. At first it is bright green, and by the autumn it becomes darker with rare scales. At the bottom of the young leaves are light green, and later become brownish, densely covered with "scales".
With the arrival of autumn, the leaves twist into a tube, after which most of them just fall off. Leaf stalks are 8-10 times shorter than the leaf blade.
Inflorescences are formed at the ends of the shoots or at the extreme leaves, with the apical and axillary appear simultaneously. From each flower bud (1-3 in each shoot), one flower blooms. The pedicle has a length of 3-5 mm, the corolla is light pink with a lilac shade (rarely white). Its length is 1.4-2.2 cm, and its diameter reaches 2.2-4 cm. The plant has 10 stamens with hairy violet-pink threads at the base. The fruit is the already mentioned box of oblong-ovoid shape, 0.8-1.2 cm long, located on the stem 0.3-0.7 cm long.
Dahurian rhododendron is a frost-resistant and shade-tolerant species and is able to survive frosts down to -45 ° C.
In most cases, vegetative reproduction (through root suckers). Propagation by seed mainly occurs in cuttings and burns. In recent years, the number of this species in Russia has decreased markedly, especially in the suburban area. This phenomenon contributes to the economic use of land and changes in the natural landscape, especially during the flowering season.
Rhododendron Schlippbach
Some experts reasonably believe that the ancestors of modern rhododendrons appeared even 50 million years ago. During the ice age, many of them froze to death. The Schlippenbach rhododendron, which can reach a height of 5 meters, is one of those plants that managed to survive the bitter cold. The shape of its leaves resembles wide ovals, and their length reaches 12 cm (width - 6 cm). They are collected at the ends of the shoots in bunches of 4 (5 pieces), and they produce both wedge-ovate and leaves with a rounded or chopped off tip. At the bottom of the sheet has a ciliary edge, and on top it is dark green and almost bare. Petioles rusty-ferruginous, 2-4 mm long.
In the case when the plant grows in the meadow zone, its leaves are characterized by a light green color, but if the leaf grows under the cover of the forest, then its leaves will be somewhat darker. With the arrival of autumn leaves change their color to purple and golden. Buds bloom before the leaves.
The inflorescences of rhododendron Schlippbach are umbrella-shaped and are collected into inflorescences of 8 flowers each. They bloom either with the leaves, or a little earlier. Pedicels are glandular hairy, about 10 mm long (with fruits up to 17 mm). The pale pink corolla with purple speckles has a diameter of 5-8 cm. As in the previous form, there are 10 stamens on the plant, the threads in the lower part are hairy, curved upwards. Увидеть цветы можно в апреле-мае.
Плодом рододендрона Шлиппенбаха является продолговатая или продолговато-яйцевидная коробочка длиной в 1,5 см.
The duration of the growing season of this plant is 185-200 days. Shoots begin to grow in the first half of May and often continue to grow until the beginning of June. If the main shoot dies, the plant begins to branch abundantly, forming up to 12 side branches of the second order. In some cases, lateral shoots develop at the root collar, resulting in intense tillering.
From the decorative point of view, the Schlippenbach rhododendron looks much more interesting than other species, since it has large flowers that reach 10 cm in diameter. The color of buds can vary from pink to white, although absolutely white flowers are quite rare.
Such plants are able to withstand low temperatures, but not below -26 ° C. The root system copes with temperatures not lower than -9 ° C.
