Rhododendron with the prefix “Daurian” is widespread in Siberia, the Caucasus and the Far East. Local residents call it wild rosemary. When purple flowers appear on a bush that is inconspicuous in winter in spring, rhododendron attracts the attention of tourists and local residents who are sophisticated in its beauty. It received the name “Daur” from the inhabitants of Transbaikalia, since the Russians called them Daurs.
Characteristics, description and origin
Walking in late spring or early summer through the forest beyond Lake Baikal, a flower lover can see a blooming rhododendron. The picture will impress so much that the gardener will want to take away a twig to plant a shrub at home.
Flower growers first paid attention to rhododendron in the 17th century. This happened in England. After 200 years, rhododendron was planted not only in squares in big cities, but also near the house on the site. In Russia (in the east), Japan, Korea, and China, the shrub was known from the medical side. There are a lot of nutrients here. Added rhododendron to salads for sweetness and aroma. Widely popular for its beautiful flowers.
Rhododendron reaches a height of half to two meters. The shoots stick up and branch densely. In total there can be up to 40 pieces on one bush. Thin young shoots of rhododendron at the end of the branch are collected in a bunch. Their color is rusty-brown, and their short pubescence gives them tenderness. The root is flat and superficial.
Rhododendron leaves are oval shaped with a rounded end. Glossy, dark green above and pale in scales below, they range from 1.3 to 4 centimeters in length and from half to one centimeter in width. You can see the leaves during the flowering period. In autumn they usually turn brown with large scales and fall off. Leaves on rhododendron practically do not remain overwinter.
The bush blooms at the end of young shoots or in the axils of leaves. It happens from these two places at the same time. One flower comes out of one rhododendron flower bud. The length of the peduncle reaches 5 millimeters. The calyx is small, covered in scales. The corolla is pink and purple, sometimes white, up to 2.2 centimeters in length and up to 4 in diameter. In nature, rhododendron blooms from April to June, sometimes flowers appear earlier.
When the bush fades, a fruit in the form of a box is formed.Outwardly, it resembles an egg up to 1.2 centimeters long.
Peculiarities
Rhododendron can be seen in the forest, on the slope of a rocky cliff. There are some individuals that remain evergreen for many years. Depends on the climate where the rhododendron grows.
Attention! If you need to get a beautiful bouquet for a spring celebration, you can cut a few branches and put them in water in the room on the window. In a week, the rhododendron will give a beautiful pink bouquet.
Landing
Planting rhododendron in your garden is not difficult. It is enough to know how to choose the right place, prepare the soil, time and planting pattern.
Selecting a location
It is better to plant in the shade, in a place sheltered from the wind, near large trees, behind a barn or other building.
Soil preparation
The soil should not be alkaline; the plant does not like it. It is important to do drainage so that the air circulates well. Water should not stagnate in the soil, otherwise the roots will rot. Therefore, it cannot be planted in heavy clay soil with nearby groundwater.
It is best if it is peat. You can fertilize the area with fallen leaves in the fall by digging up the ground along with them.
When to plant
Should be planted in spring. But there are gardeners who do this in the fall. You can choose a convenient growing season for the planting period. The only time to exclude is when the rhododendron blooms, and another 10 days after that. Although experienced flower lovers still insist on spring. The time ranges from April to May 10-15. It all depends on the climate of the region.
Choosing the right seedling
5 tips when buying seedlings:
- There are a lot of scammers out there, so there is a possibility of buying something other than a rhododendron bush. You should only buy from a reputable place from a knowledgeable gardener.Even if a person is not buying a bush for the first time and knows how to plant it, he still needs to ask how to do it. If the seller cannot answer, it means that he is a reseller and you cannot purchase a plant from him.
- It is better for a beginner to choose a seedling of one of the species of Daurian rhododendron. They are not so whimsical, frost-resistant, and easier to care for. The developed varieties need additional attention, without which they die.
- If the decision has been made, then buying an adult seedling imported from another country where rhododendron was grown in soft soil using a special technology characteristic of that climate means taking a risk. Since although the bush will take root, it will not survive the winter.
- It is better to buy a plant under four years old. You need to ask how the sprout was grown. If by planting seeds in a greenhouse, then in three years the rhododendron will grow only 15 centimeters. If the cutting method was used, then the bush will grow by 25 centimeters. The higher the plant, the stronger the root system. Before purchasing, you need to inspect the sprout. You need to choose strong and healthy ones, which have intact roots and straight shoots. There should be no cuts, dark or light colored spots, or new growths on the surface of the root system.
- It is imperative to check the condition of the root system. All shoots should be elastic, flexible, and easy to curl. There should be no mold or rot. The bark should be scratched a little; if the wood is light, it means the seedling is healthy.
Planting scheme
First you need to prepare the hole. You will have to dig at least half a meter deep and the same width. Peat or substrate, soil with leaves prepared in the fall, and compost are placed at the bottom.You need to make a bedding from pine needles and add humus with river sand.
For drainage, do not forget to lay crushed stone or broken brick at the very bottom. Under no circumstances should you put lime, as the plant does not tolerate alkali.
When burying a seedling, it is important to ensure that the neck of the root does not end up underground; it should protrude. After planting, a hole is formed near the trunk, and the plant is generously filled with water. Apply mulch to the soil to protect surface roots.
Care
Caring for rhododendron is not difficult. You will have to tinker, as the bush requires watering, fertilizing, and pruning.
Watering
You need to water once every two weeks with two buckets (it is better to take rainwater). Using a drainage system, you can ensure that the water does not stagnate and the roots do not begin to rot.
Top dressing
The plant needs to be fertilized once every three years in the spring and every time after flowering. In the spring, organic matter, minerals, phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium are used.
Weeding
Weeds are regularly removed by loosening (they absorb nutrients from the soil). It is better to burn the torn grass, as it can become a carrier of diseases.
Removing buds
The first three years you need to remove the buds so that the plant takes root well. You will be able to enjoy the beauty of the bush only after four years.
Preparing for winter
The plant usually tolerates cold weather. In very severe frosts, the bush is wrapped in pine branches. For a young plant, you should make a greenhouse or cover it with oak leaves.
Trimming
Young bushes cannot be pruned, otherwise they will not grow. Although the plant develops slowly, it will live a long time. It is important to prepare for the fact that the bush will be decorative for the first 10 years.Adult plants are rarely pruned, as they have a regular geometric shape.
Topping
It is better to pinch young seedlings so that the bush has the correct shape in the future. To do this, cut a branch near the central bud.
Reproduction
For wild individuals, the seed method is used, for decorative ones - cuttings. In both cases, the plant takes root in a box in a room where it is 20-23 degrees. Peat and sand serve as soil.
Seed method
Branches appear after 4 weeks. When three leaves grow, the box can be taken to a cooler place for hardening.
Cuttings
At the end of July or in August, a rhododendron shoot is cut from the bush along an oblique shoot. The length should be up to 10 centimeters. 2-3 top leaves remain. Rhododendron is planted at an angle of 30 degrees into the ground.
Important! You need to water the cuttings 2-3 times a week for them to take root..
Use in landscape design
Planting rhododendrons with different flowering periods in your area is a great idea. It is better to choose a place near a fountain or artificial pond. This way you won't have to constantly spray it. Neighbors can be blueberries and lingonberries, which also love acidic soil.
Reviews
Alisa Beshelya, 43 years old: “For me, rhododendron is the best shrub on the site. It blooms purple. The bush did not take root at home, but a real rose tree grew in the garden. I like that the bush is unpretentious. The plant grows in the shade. This is convenient, because the garden is not always in a sunny place.
Needles should grow nearby on the site, since in winter the leaves fall off and the bare crown of fruit trees does not cover the bush. A common plant disease is rust.Sometimes spider mites and bugs settle in, feeding exclusively on rhododendron leaves. I have 6 types of shrubs on my site. 4 have already started to show color. 2 are still too young, but we expect flowering next year.”
Olga Malyarova, 54 years old: “I love ornamental shrubs. Rhododendron was no exception. I dream of planting my plot near my house with all possible types of this plant. I love rhododendron for its delicate color during flowering. In total there are up to 12 thousand species. Of course, it is difficult to seat every representative. Every year (for 10 years now) I plant one type of bush. Now there are 10 rhododendrons on the site. Most already produce color every spring and summer. I like to look at my bushes during the day while relaxing and enjoy their luxurious appearance.”
Gardeners speak positively about rhododendron, which, although it is difficult to take root in the European climate, pleases with its beauty in spring and summer. By following the advice on planting and caring for the plant, you can enjoy the delicate purple color of the shrub in just four years.
