Rhododendron 'JG001' |
Origin: China
Zone Range: 7-10
Preferred Situation: Partial sun to dappled shade; well draining evenly moist soil.
Description:
In the partial sun to dappled shade, this lovely tall graceful upright shrub thrives and the flowers, which appear mid Spring, are an amazing electric violet/blue and almost glow in the shade. Very nice evergreen leaves. A real show stopper. Reaches 2 meters in 10 years and eventually reaching 3 meteres with equal spread for mature plants.
Notes:
Possibly pale form of R. augustinii. If so, it is referred by many as one of the best blue rhododendrons. A sun tolerant species, but the blooms don't last as long under intense sun. Flower colour can vary depending upon soil fertility, soil pH, and sun exposure. All members of the Genus Rhododendron are shallow rooted and must have moisture retentive acidic humus rich soil. Never lime or overfeed. Prune immediately after blooms are spent as next year's flowering buds are formed over the summer on new growth. Another aquisition by the late Ted and Mary Grieg, renowned plants people. Worthy enough to establish in their personal garden.
Cultivation:
Traditionally propagated by surface sowing under glass and keeping moist, there are always less bulky, alternate ways of starting Rhododendrons from seed. Generally seed doesn't need any pretreatment. Full a 15 cm deep nursery pot with a sterile medium of equal parts of finely milled peat moss, sand, and loam. Sow thinly! Mix seed with a small amount of sand, evenly disperse seed over the surface of the medium (not too much sand as seed need light to germinate) and tamp firm. Direct sunlight will fry seedlings, an artifical light source is best. Keep moist using fine mist as heavy droplets will dislodge delicate seedling roots; use a plastic cover for greater success. Germinate at 20 C and you should see sprouts emerging within 3 months. When at their 3-4 true leaf stage prick out and transplant seedling. Seedlings cannot tolerate winter temps in their first year so its best to place them in a unheated greenhouse or cold frame. Protect seedlings from nibbling varmits. Seed germinates within 3 months.
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