Description of rhododendron variety Ledebura, planting and care, cultivation features

Flowering shrubs are often used to decorate personal plots and gardens. With the help of such plants, even the most unattractive areas of the garden acquire fabulous beauty and decorativeness. Rhododendron variety Ledebura belongs to these types of shrubs.

Brief Definition

Rhododendron Ledebur is an evergreen, frost-resistant shrub with early flowering periods. Most gardeners know the plant under the name wild rosemary or wild rosemary. In its natural environment, Ledebour's rhododendron is found on mountain slopes, coniferous and deciduous forests of the Altai Territory, Mongolia and the Far East, and is therefore resistant to sudden temperature changes and severe frosts.

Detailed description

The Ledebur rhododendron shrub belongs to the heather family, and therefore has characteristics specific to its species:

1. An evergreen plant with straight, upward-stretching brown thin branches.
2. The height of an adult bush is from 1.5 to 2 meters.
3. Young seedlings are bright green with a lemon tint.
4. Green foliage with an olive tint densely covers the plant. The leaves are small 2-3cm.
5. The inflorescences are large. The flowering is vigorous, bright purple flowers with a pink tint completely cover the bush.
6. High resistance to frost. In winter, the leaves curl into a tube, but with the slightest warming, they straighten out immediately.
7. The shrub blooms twice a year, in spring and autumn.

Important! Rhododendron Ledebura is a durable plant with excellent decorative qualities. And with proper care, the shrub will become a long-liver in the garden for decades..

History of origin

This variety of wild rosemary was discovered during a scientific expedition to Altai at the end of the 19th century, led by a German botanist.It was in honor of him that the wild rosemary variety got its name.

Medicinal properties

The leaves of the plant, which contain a high content of essential oils, amino acids, micro and macroelements, have medicinal properties. The leaves are collected during the period of active flowering of the bush, after which they are dried and used for medicinal purposes.

Infusions and decoctions of rhododendron Ledebur have anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties, and also increase the tone and immunity of the body. However, the plant causes severe poisoning in cattle, goats and sheep.

Distinctive features

Based on the harsh conditions of its natural habitat, the shrub has some differences from its fellow species:

1. Rhododendron Ledebur is resistant to severe frosts. It easily tolerates winter frosts down to -32 degrees. But during winter thaws, the plant quickly comes out of sleep, so subsequent frosts can harm the already activated rhododendron.
2. During flowering, not only the lush inflorescences of the shrub have an aroma, but also its succulent leaves. After all, they contain a large amount of essential oil.

Today there are more than 3 thousand varieties of this plant, but Ledebur rhododendron is still considered one of the most beautiful shrubs among its relatives.

Growing

The shrub does not require care, but there are points that need to be taken into account when growing Ledebur rhododendron.

Selection of location and soil

To plant Ledebur seedlings in open ground, certain conditions are required:

1. The soil for seedlings is preferably rocky, with a high acid content. It is in this soil that rhododendron grows naturally.
2. It does not like winds and drafts, so the area for seedlings must be protected from them.
3. For active flowering, the shrub needs sunlight, but the plant does not like direct rays. The land plot for planting rhododendron should be slightly shaded.
4. Plants with a deep root system are chosen as neighbors of rhododendron. The roots of the bush are located close to the surface, so the same neighbors will become a big hindrance to the growth and development of the bush.
5. The plant grows and develops well on the coasts of small bodies of water. This could be a decorative garden pond or stream.

Important! Large inflorescences require additional sunlight on the plant.

Selection of seedlings and planting dates

Although rhododendron is distinguished by its vitality, you need to choose planting material carefully and carefully. It is best to buy young seedlings in specialized nurseries or garden centers. There, professional consultants will offer actually healthy and strong plants.

To purchase planting materials at exhibitions, you must have the knowledge of an experienced gardener:

1. A 2-3 year old seedling has a large number of dense shoots.
2. Leaves without damage or knots. They are also free of stains, streaks and unevenness.
3. The root system is not overdried, without nodules or damage.
4. Low seedlings, 15-20 cm, are a guarantee that they were grown in open ground, so the planting process will be easier for a young plant.

Plants grown in greenhouses are taller, but they take longer to get used to open ground. Shrubs are planted on the site in early spring or autumn, the main thing is that the work does not take place during the active flowering phase.

Planting

To plant Ledebur rhododendron, a hole is dug 50 cm deep and 60 cm in diameter, into which peat and clay are placed. Before planting, the seedling must be kept in water for 2-3 hours; if the root system is overdried, the period increases to 10 hours.

The seedling is inserted into the hole, the root system is carefully laid out and sprinkled with soil mixture. There should be no unfilled areas between the roots. The soil around the planted plant is compacted and watered abundantly.

Important! The shrub has thin roots that are located close to the soil surface. Therefore, it is advisable to support young plants with support pegs before rooting..

Temperature

The shrub is distinguished by its frost-resistant qualities. It easily survives winter at -32 degrees. But in extreme heat, rhododendron requires shading and additional moisture. Especially, the temperature regime is important during the formation of buds. During this period of time, the most comfortable temperature for the plant will be 15-17 degrees.

Watering

Rhododendron Ledeboura is a moisture-loving plant, so irrigation work is carried out frequently. The flowering of a shrub directly depends on its watering. The first sign that the bush does not have enough moisture is wilted, yellowed leaves.

Irrigation work is carried out with settled water. Also, to increase the acidity in the soil, add a little peat to the water. In drought and hot weather, it is advisable to shade the bush and spray it. Active watering of the shrub is necessary from spring to autumn; in the winter season, rhododendron is not watered.

Feeding and loosening

The Ledebur rhododendron shrub, like other plants, needs additional feeding. It is fertilized from the first year of planting in open ground.In early spring, feed with organic fertilizers. Next, small doses of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers are added. Mineral fertilizers are used carefully because they sharply reduce the acidity of the soil.

The root system of the shrub is located close to the upper layers of the soil and suffers greatly from weeds, which take away moisture and nutrients from it.

You need to carefully weed and loosen the soil under the bush, without damaging the roots of the plant. To protect rhododendron from external influences and weeds, the soil is mulched with sawdust, pine needles or garden mulch.

Trimming

Rhododendron bushes are able to maintain a beautiful shape on their own for a long time. Therefore, formative pruning is carried out as necessary and only on the central branches. But every spring and autumn they do sanitary pruning of dried, broken and damaged branches.

Transfer

The shrub easily tolerates changing places. It is best to replant rhododendron in early spring, but before the bush blooms. If it was not possible to replant the plant in the spring, then the work will be postponed to September or October. After replanting, the plant will grow faster and gain new strength for vigorous flowering.

Wintering

Rhododendron tolerates mild winters down to -10 degrees easily. At such temperatures, the shrub does not need additional insulation. After snowfall, small snowdrifts are created around the plant, which protect the rhizome from freezing. In regions with harsh winters, shrubs are insulated with spruce branches or burlap. Insulation is removed with the first spring thaw.

Bloom

With proper and timely care of the shrub, its flowering periods will occur twice a season.

When and how

The first period of active flowering of the shrub occurs in the spring.Depending on the regions in April or May. The bush blooms for the second time at the end of summer and remains in the active flowering phase for up to 4 weeks.

What to do before and after

Before the start of spring flowering, the shrub needs sanitary pruning. And during flowering, the plant needs sunlight and abundant irrigation procedures. After flowering, fallen leaves and buds are removed.

Problem solving

If the shrub has not bloomed, this means that after the last period of flowering the faded inflorescences were not cut off in time, because only by removing them does space become available for the formation of new buds.

Diseases and pests

Rhododendron is susceptible to various diseases and insects.

Spider mite

The bushes have been attacked by spider mites, are carefully inspected and treated with a fungicide solution. The procedure is carried out, if necessary, 2 to 3 times, with an interval of 10 days.

Snails and slugs

Frequent guests of the plant are snails and slugs. The method of controlling these pests is simple: they are collected by hand and then burned.

Mealybug, rhododendron bugs and flies

If you find pests on a bush, you must apply the following measures:

1. Inspect the plant carefully and, if possible, collect all obvious pests.
2. Spray the entire bush with special insecticides.

How to propagate

Ledebur rhododendron reproduces in different ways:

1. Seeds. To propagate shrubs in this way, you must have the experience and experience of a professional gardener.
2. When propagated by cuttings, strong, viable plants are obtained, which, after aging in greenhouse or home conditions, are planted in open ground.
3. By layering. Mature bushes have many young shoots, which are dug into the ground in the spring and left there until autumn.At the end of the autumn period, the cuttings are dug up and cut off from the mother bush along with the formed root system. The result is independent shrubs that can survive wintering in open ground.

Prevention of various problems

To prevent the plant from dying, preventive treatments with special preparations are carried out every spring and autumn. If procedures are not carried out in a timely manner, fungal and putrefactive diseases can destroy a beautiful, flowering bush.

To prevent fungal and putrefactive diseases, the bush is treated with Bordeaux mixture.

Important! Preventive treatment procedures are carried out after the rhododendron flowering period.

Use in ornamental gardening

Compact Ledebur rhododendron bushes planted on a personal plot or in a garden will become the center of a floristic composition.

Intermediate flower arrangements

Ledebur's rhododendron is often used as a basis for creating alpine landscapes and slides. And in combination with small stones, the bush will not only decorate the site, but will also receive a familiar natural interior.

Groups of plants along paths

If a group of plants is planted along paths or fences, you will get a hedge that will decorate the landscape of your garden plot.

Against the background of coniferous trees

Rhododendron bushes combined with coniferous trees will create a bright composition. In this case, the shrub is planted in front of the trees. And during the period of active flowering of the bush, the composition becomes the center of the garden plot.

Reviews

Irina. Moscow region:

Rhododendron Ledebur was planted 5 years ago. Every year it blooms more and more beautifully. Now I am concerned about breeding this miracle of nature.

Evgeny Nikolaevich. Ekaterinburg:

I bought the first seedling of this shrub about 7 years ago. I thought that it would not survive in our winters, but I was mistaken. Now my entire plot is planted with Ledebur rhododendron. We admire beautiful flowers with the whole family twice a year.

Anna. Saint Petersburg:

Last spring we planted this incredibly beautiful plant, Ledebur rhododendron. Immediately after planting, buds with buds appeared, but then for some reason they fell off. We wrapped it up for the winter and now we are waiting to see what will happen in the spring.