Rhododendron JG006 |
Origin: Japan (?)
Zone Range: 6-9
Preferred Situation: Semi sun to dappled shade; well draining humus rich soil.
Harvest Date: Monday 31 December, 2007
Description:
Deciduous azalea with clear orange fragrant flowers in large clusters. Shrubby mounded form of 1.5 meters with an equal spread. Blooms from mid May to mid June. Grows under the shade of a very large Acer griseum during the summer, otherwise has full sun in the late Autumn to mid Spring. Possible Rhododendron japonica hybrid.
Notes:
Part of a rhododendron collection established decades ago by the late Ted and Mary Grieg, renouned plants people who imported from around the world. There is the odd surviving old tin label wrapped around a branch where the faded writing state not a name but an aquisition code. The Greigs found it worthy enough to enjoy in their own 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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