Rhododendron - planting and care

Scientific name (Latin): Rhododendron

Family: Heath family (Ericaceae)

Growing your own rhododendron is an investment that will pay off for many years to come. In addition to blooming early, smelling lovely, and being relatively low-maintenance, they also provide evergreen foliage for your garden. With the right conditions and a little care, you have every opportunity to grow beautiful, healthy rhododendrons that will thrive in your garden.

The genus Rhododendron includes over 900 different garden plants, each with its own unique colors, shapes, and blooming times, although most bloom in early summer. In recent years, interest in this beautiful plant has increased, and even more hybrids are being introduced to the Norwegian market. The name comes from the Greek word "rhodo," meaning rose or tree, combined with "dendron," which means tree.

First, choose where in the garden you plan to plant your rhododendron and decide on the placement or variety. It's a good idea to plant several bushes together, as this is a genus-friendly plant that thrives in company.

• Placement and growing conditions
  Rhododendron prefers a calm and sheltered growing location, ideally in partial shade, but it can also tolerate a sunnier spot. If you choose such a location, make sure to water it extra on hot days.
  
• Soil for rhododendron
  The soil where the bush will be planted should be acidic, with a pH of around 4.5 to 5.5 for the rhododendron to thrive. Also, ensure that the soil is low in lime, porous, and well-drained. Use rhododendron soil when planting. You can improve the quality even more by mixing unfertilized peat, oak or beech leaf compost and/or bark into the soil. You can even mix in some gravel.
  
• Planting the rhododendron
  Rhododendrons have a shallow root system, so they should not be planted too deep. For larger plants, prepare a depth of about 40 cm for the bush and around 70 cm in diameter. The top of the root ball should be just a couple of centimeters below the soil surface. Water generously during planting and throughout the first season.
  
• Cover the soil to protect the bush
  After planting, it's beneficial to cover the ground with beech and oak leaves, bark pieces, or other slowly decomposing plant materials with low pH – to protect your bush.

Taking care of your rhododendron requires minimal effort.

• Watering
  Rhododendron needs a lot of water but doesn't tolerate constant moisture. Make sure the soil is well-drained. In the fall, before the ground freezes, it's a good idea to water generously, even if it has rained a lot recently. Rhododendron stores and uses water reserves throughout the winter as it evaporates a significant amount of moisture through its leaves year-round.
  
• Fertilizing Rhododendron
  Rhododendron grows slowly and therefore requires limited nutrition. In spring, you can fertilize after the bush has bloomed, and there is a special rhododendron fertilizer that you can use. If the soil has settled, you can add more rhododendron soil.
  
• Protect from Spring Sun
  If the sun starts shining in early spring but the ground hasn't thawed yet, it's a good idea to protect the bush with burlap. Otherwise, the bush may suffer damage that is difficult to overcome.
  
• Remove Faded Flowers
  Keep your bush healthy and beautiful by regularly removing faded flowers. This also encourages new leaves and buds to grow.

Pruning is not necessary, but if the bush has become bare and unattractive, it can be rejuvenated by cutting it back. You can either cut the entire plant at once or do it over a few years. Remove any damaged or dead branches you find, and trim the bush if it has become too large or heavy. Aim for a cut to about 10–15 cm above ground level, and it's best to do this in spring.

The first time the name was found in history was around 100 AD, when it appeared in the writings of the physician and botanist Dioscorides. However, at that time, it referred to an entirely different plant, Nerium Oleander. It was Linnaeus who later adopted the name and assigned it to the rhododendron genus. Linnaeus was also the first to identify several species of rhododendrons, including the Swedish Azalea Lapponicum, which is found in Jämtland in Härjedalen.

It is also possible to trace the plant's history back to the time of Alexander the Great, where descriptions of rhododendrons, specifically the species Azalea luteum, have been found. It is said in folklore that parts of Alexander's army ate luteum honey and became ill from it. Although the plant is not mentioned in history prior to this, 50-million-year-old fossils have been discovered, suggesting that this plant has existed for at least 200 million years.

• The flowers are either white, yellow, red, green, or blue.
• Many species are grown as ornamental plants.
• There are both gigantic plants with 1-meter-long leaves and miniatures with 8-10 mm long leaves.
• It is believed to have existed for nearly 200 million years.
• A low-maintenance shrub that fits most gardens.

See our selection of rhododendrons

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