Rhododendron edgeworthii (Edgeworth Rhododendron)
Botanical Information
| Family | Ericaceae |
| Genus | Rhododendron |
| Species | edgeworthii |
| Synonyms | Rhododendron bullatum |
| Category | Woody |
| Type | Shrub (evergreen) |
| Origin | Himalaya's (Western China), introduced into cultivation by Joseph Hooker in 1849. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 8b - 9b |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 9 |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H4 - H3 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -9.4 - (- 3.8) |
| Temperature (°F) | 15 - 25 |
| Height | 1.2-5 m |
| Spread | 1.8-2.4 m |
| Growth | Fast |
| Flowering Period | April, May |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | A spreading shrub with very dense foliage, growing up to 5 m in height. |
| Shape | Low growing dome. |
| Landscape | Informal hedge. Will provide a beautiful display of white flushed pink or pink flowers which are very appealing. |
| Propagation | Seeds germinate easily without any special treatment to break dormancy. Cuttings should be treated with alcohol for 5 seconds, placed in a well drained media and misted. |
| Cultivation | Prefers a humus rich friable sandy loam in a sunny position or in light shade. |
| Pests | Suffers from vine weevils, white fly, scale insects, caterpillars, aphids and honey fungus. |
| Notable Specimens | Trebah Garden Trust, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom. |
| Habitat | Mild, wet, richly acidic soil regions, lightly wooded and open meadow areas at lower elevations. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Dark brown-grey, mild fissures can be found on older growth. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Rose-coloured flower buds. |
| Leaf Description | Thick, glabrous, simple leaves in a lanceolate-elliptical shape, leathery texture, 6-18 cm long and 2-5 cm wide, growing in a whorled pattern. Dark green above, light green underneath. |
| Flower Description | Fragrant white, white flushed pink or pink flowers, sometimes with a yellow blotch near the base of the tube. Each inflorescence typically contains 2-3 flowers with the individual funnel-campanulate corollas up to 10 cm in length and up to 12 cm in diameter. The large and often deeply lobed calyx ranges in colour from pink to green flushed with red. It is usually covered with a more or less dense indumentum of silky hairs. |
| Fruit Description | The fruit is a dry capsule 1.5-2.5 cm in length, filled with many seeds. |
| Colour Description | Dark green glabrous foliage, white flushed pink or pink flowers with green, yellow or orange spots. The bark is a brownish-grey. |
| Texture Description | Medium-coarse. |
Photographs
Rhododendron edgeworthii, form, Trebah Garden Trust, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Rhododendron edgeworthii, flower cluster, Trebah Garden Trust, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Rhododendron edgeworthii, flower cluster, Trebah Garden Trust, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
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