by Susan | Jun 7, 2019 | Plants I Dig
Do you remember my post, Hydrangeas HO HUM? (click HERE to read). My feelings about hydrangeas at the time were pretty meh. Until I spent some time observing and photographing them when I quickly changed my mind. I discovered amazing flowers, with texture, color, and interest far beyond my expectations. I’m currently having the same experience with Rhododendrons. They have about 2 weeks of bloom then – boom – it is over, and you get 50 weeks of blah. BUT this year, after a disgusting, rainy April, I enjoyed discovering a new outlook on these mundane, often overused plants.
The deluge of rain this spring has produced amazing, huge flowers and a lushness we rarely expect of our Rhododendrons. I discovered a ‘new to me’ large cultivar blooming for the first time.
The giant white/pink trusses (how the flowers of Rhododendrons are held on the plant) had lovely open faces.
Shocking pink pistils alongside soft pink anthers (sexual organs of flowers) and the flourish of re-curved petals (turned backward). Although I’m not normally a fan of pink, this beautiful plant stopped me in my tracks. Then I looked around and noticed the rhododendron I have looking far better than ever before. Bright colors of orange, red, purple and white were vibrant and full.
Here are some pictures of the amazing rhododendrons that grow in my garden. I use many of these species in the designs I create because they have great color, are easy to grow, and have an unusual leaf or fragrance. Many Rhododendrons that I love are from the azalea family and have brilliant fall color as well.
by Susan | May 6, 2016 | plants
This is the Pacific Northwest. As we drive through neighborhoods, parking lots, and walk through forest trails and parks we see Rhododendrons. Actually, we kind of get tired of seeing Rhododendrons for sale everywhere, and planted everywhere. Even in the design community we tend to avoid using them whenever possible. Like anything that is overdone we try to look for something new and different.
Secretly though, I have several favorites in my Garden. One of my favorite people is Robert Zimmerman from Chimicum Gardens. He is an amazing Rhododendron grower. Most of his plants are species, personally collected in the wild by him. He has educated me and tempted me to add to my collection and plant really amazing rhododendrons in my client’s gardens.
This one comes from Robert Zimmerman. Although a zone 8 plant and only hardy to 15 degrees it is happy here in my new garden beds. The structure is great, and the fragrance captivates from over 10 feet away. The lovely clear blossoms almost transparent with a lovely pinkish blush while in bud.
Rhododendron ‘Fragrantissimum’
Regarded as one of the most fragrant Rhododendrons. It is a medium-sized evergreen shrub. Blooming heavily in mid spring, its large, trumpet-shaped frilly white flowers, up to 2.5 inches wide have a bright yellow throat and are delicately blushed with pink on the outside.
Held in small loose trusses the blooms are really stunning with hairy dark green leaves with impressed veins. The main attraction is really it honeysuckle fragrance. Although it is more tender than many other Rhododendrons it is hardy to 15F and has been great in my garden. It is under high shade and near the upper pond so it may have a little more shelter there.
Grows 3 – 5 ft tall and wide.
Grows in part shade in moist, acidic, hummus-y well-drained soils.
Rhododendron ‘Ebony Pearl’ is a hybrid grown by Briggs Nursery. It has copper new leaves and dark foliage. It has put on good growth since being here and this year the blooms are amazing. It moved from underneath a cedar tree where it struggled to survive to a moist shaded bed with good soil and good drainage.
Grows to 6’ hardy to -5F.
Grows in part shade in moist, acidic, hummus-y soils.
Lovely warm yellow orange is beautiful in the spring. The Exbury Azalea ‘Golden Flare’ has a reddish-orange blotch and has a soft fragrance. It is deciduous so the fall color is a added bonus.
Grows to 6’ and is hardy to zone 5
Grows in sun to part sun with adequate water.
These are my secret Rhododendron passions. I have several more that aren’t blooming just now but have a special place in my garden.
by Kristen | May 10, 2014 | gardening, plants
Of the many things I can list as one of my favorite things, rain is not one of them. As of today we have a 110% of our total rainfall for May, it is only the 5th. Lots of people just moan about it but the brave, raindrop-dodging gardener eagerly waits for a break in the rain to run out to see what is happening. We are all hoping that spring will be the rainy season and we will be rewarded with a long hot summer.
My plants are actually holding up well under the deluge. They are bravely showing their tender petals and fresh greens. Come with me as we take a quick tour of my garden and see what’s out there.
I am a big fan of color and texture. Flowers don’t always thrill me but sometimes they just demand my full attention. Then again blossom and texture can go together. This Magnolia Twanensis is fabulous this year with gigantic buds and plenty of them.
Peonies have light texture with delicate, tissue like petals. They are holding their heads up high and looking beautiful even through the rain. This is peony kinkaku is new to me this year.
This peony was rescued from a house that was being torn down. She needed a good home and I was happy to give her one. I usually get only 2-3 blooms on this tree and they are worth seeking out.
I have had this spider azalea (rhododendron ‘linearifolium’) for 10 years. It is one of the plants I take with me every time I move house. I think it will come with me again. Now it is happy with lily of the valley at its feet and Ranunculus aconitifolius ‘flore pleno’ in the background.
It is also rhododendron season here in the Pacific Northwest. They can look dull and uninteresting much of the year but right now they are the queens of the garden. Both of these large rhododendrons were from the previous owners. They are full and lush. I will share my secret for fabulous rhododendrons all year round in a future post.
This sweet white rhododendron is rhododendron fragrantissima. Still in the pot it gets a special place by the door.
The excess moisture is what primroses thrive on. This candelabra primrose is happy in the mud and falling rain.
This blue aquilegia has just a touch of red in the bottom of the petals exactly the color of the barberry behind it. (It is actually Barberry ‘orange rocket’ but when the leaves are just coming out in the early spring they are very red).
So, that’s what is happening in my garden right now. How are you faring with the rain and yuck? What are you seeing in your garden?
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