What is another name for the rhododendron flower? Decoration of gardens and apartments - azalea Decorative use of rhododendron

Rhododendron... Spelling dictionary-reference book

- (Greek, from rhodon rose, and dendron tree). A rose-shaped plant with several species, some of which grow in Asia Minor, others in the Alpine and Altai mountains; We keep them in rooms and greenhouses. Dictionary of foreign words included in... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

- (Rhododendron), a genus of plants of the family. heather Evergreen or deciduous shrubs, rarely trees. The flowers are large, often bright, in corymbose or umbellate inflorescences, rarely solitary. Over 600 (according to other sources, up to 1300) species, Ch. arr. V… … Biological encyclopedic dictionary

RHODODENDRON, a genus of shrubs or small trees (heather family). Over 600 species, mainly in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere (mainly in the mountains of East Asia and North America), including 18 species in the Far... ... Modern encyclopedia

A genus of shrubs or small trees in the heather family. Over 600 species, mainly in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere (mainly in the mountains of East Asia and North America), including in the Far East, Siberia, and the Caucasus. Many types... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Rhododendrin, wild rosemary, azalea, azalea, maralnik Dictionary of Russian synonyms. rhododendron noun, number of synonyms: 6 azalea (6) ... Synonym dictionary

- [de], rhododendron, husband. (from the Greek rhodon rose and dendron tree) (bot.). A shrub plant from the heather family with dense leaves and beautiful flowers, growing in mountainous areas and grown as an ornamental plant. Dictionary … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

- [de], ah, husband. Shrub or small tree of the family. heather with dense leaves and large beautiful flowers, bred as an ornamental. | adj. rhododendron, oh, oh. Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

- (Rhododenron L.) generic name of plants from the heather family (Ericaceae). Up to 200 species are known, growing on the mountains of Europe, America, Asia, mainly in the Himalayan mountains and Malay mountains. These are small trees or shrubs, with annual... ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

rhododendron- and obsolete rhododendron. Pronounced [rhododendron]... Dictionary of difficulties of pronunciation and stress in modern Russian language

Books

• I speak the language of flowers, Vanessa Dieffenbach. Victoria is eighteen, and she is afraid of touches and words, her own and others. She is afraid to love. The secret garden became her refuge and home, where all fears evaporate. Only through flowers she...
• The Language of Flowers, Vanessa Dieffenbach. Vanessa Dieffenbach's amazing novel is an unforgettable story about a girl who speaks the language of flowers, who has captured the hearts of millions of readers around the world. Victoria is eighteen and she...

Historical homeland of rhododendron– the Carpathian Mountains, East Asia and the Caucasus, but the plant’s fame is not limited only to these places.

This is truly a flower mythical. There is hardly a plant in the world that is shrouded in so many secrets and legends.

The story about the friendship of azaleas with elves, written by the ancient Greek scientist Xenophon, is amazing. Or the Indian legend about two sisters Azu and Leah.

Those that have reached us written sources, dating back to the 5th century BC, talk about the popularity of azaleas back in Ancient Greece. Just by the name alone, it is clear that the plant did not immediately reveal its secrets to humanity.

Under the sonorous name hides a whole characteristic. From Greek “azalea” is translated as "dry".

The reason for this plain looking bush. Dry, velvety-rough leaves to the touch. Azalea at first seemed tormented by the sun. But as soon as it bloomed, everything immediately changed.

Some rhododendrons, the ancestors of modern azaleas, are now included in Red Book. And they are protected.

Endangered species:

• Rhododendron fauriei;
• Schlippenbach rhododendron (Rhododendron schlippenbachii);
• yellow rhododendron or Pontic azalea (Rhododendron luteum).

You can find out about others here.

Azalea or rhododendron

What is the difference between azalea and rhododendron? All the time that botanists were closely studying these plants, their ideas about family ties between azalea and rhododendron.

And if scientists initially considered them plants from absolutely different kinds one heather family, they now agreed that azalea is a subgenus, a group of some plant species from a huge genus rhododendrons.

Modern gardeners have still not come to a consensus. Some distinguish these two plants by the place of cultivation: rhododendron is mainly street larger plant, azalea – indoor.

Others divide them by the number of stamens: azalea has 5, rhododendron has 10 or more. The third best quality foliage is azaleas. deciduous, rhododendrons - evergreen. They are all right and wrong at the same time.

If the professionals don’t agree, then sometimes in stores confusion occurs. Among gardeners, azaleas are a group of rhododendrons that have certain characteristics.

Characteristic

Here is a detailed description of the flower and we can get an idea of ​​what the plant looks like.

Root system

Root system – superficial. The roots are quite fragile. They are tightly woven and seem to grow to the ground. They look somewhat like washcloth. This creates additional difficulties in transplanting it.

Stem

Its historical name "Pink tree" I got it for a reason. Depending on the variety and the correct formation of the crown, its stem looks like tree trunk.

It is this quality that makes the azalea the “pearl” of Japanese art bonsai. It grows on average up to half a meter.

Sheet

The leaves are small, leathery, dryish, rough to the touch. Towards the end of flowering they usually turn yellow and fall off.

Flower

The flower is pride azaleas! Depending on the variety and, it comes in completely different shapes, textures and colors.

Terry and smooth, with petals that look like “corrugated” paper and an incredible number of shades... From delicate pastels to bright red. Currently withdrawn two-color varieties.

It blooms in cold January and is pleasing to the eye until spring, and sometimes longer.

Photo

In the photo below we can see how beautiful indoor azaleas look in the interior, as well as how outdoor rhododendron can be used in landscape design:

In landscape design

On the street, usually plant rhododendron. He's bigger and Hardier than azalea. It is successfully used in landscape design.

The main thing is to withstand conditions close to those of your family - sufficient humidity, and lack of direct sunlight. The ideal weather for this plant is a warm, foggy autumn, when the night temperature is around +10 degrees Celsius.

In warm regions, home azalea can be planted as garden plant.

You can find out here.

At home

Home azalea in a pot too loves cool weather. Her ideal climate within a city apartment is a loggia. She also does not tolerate bright light and drafts. From spring to autumn, he can have a great time at the dacha and live in the open air.

In the apartment she can show character. She has a hard time getting used to everything new. And he prefers privacy on the windowsill.

It would be best to give her a small partition from other flowers. During flowering, the plant can be moved anywhere, but immediately after - return it to the “room”.

You can find out from our article.

Video

Watch this helpful video:

Conclusion

In China they have long known that where the azalea lives, forever happiness settles, success and longevity. It is with these wishes that flowers are given in Russia.

And even with its whims, azalea teaches us not to retreat on the path to what we want. After all, having overcome all difficulties, we will be rewarded with the happiness of observing a long beautiful bloom.

They also say that it will relieve accumulated fatigue.

Azalea! - one of the varieties of rhododendron

does something like this even exist in nature?

Ledum

Rhododendron (lat. Rhododendron) is a genus of plants of the heather family. There are more than 600 species of rhododendron, growing mainly in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. In Russia, up to 18 species are found in natural conditions, mainly in the Caucasus, Siberia and the Far East.

It is a good early spring honey plant. The bark and leaves are rich in tannins. Source: Rhododendron...

In Ukraine, in Polesie, yellow rhododendron grows, another name for which is Pontic azalea. It was first discovered in the Caucasus Mountains, where it often forms continuous thickets, sometimes occupying even rocks lightly covered with earth. Then this plant was discovered in Asia Minor. Even scientists did not know for a long time that it grows in Polesie. The local population gave the name to this plant - rubbish (if you want to check if it is correct, try walking through the rhododendron thickets).

Azalea probably!

Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum)

Department: Angiosperms

Class: Dicotyledons

Order: Ericaceae

Family: Ericaceae

Genus: Rhododendron

Latin name

Rhododendron L.

Rhododendron (lat. Rhododendron) is a genus of plants of the heather family. There are more than 600 species of rhododendron, growing mainly in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. In Russia, up to 18 species are found in natural conditions, mainly in the Caucasus, Siberia and the Far East.

Rhododendron is represented by shrubs or shrubs with evergreen leaves or leaves that fall in winter. Leaves are alternate, whole.

The flowers are bisexual, with a large, slightly irregular corolla of yellow, pink or purple-violet color, collected in corymbose inflorescences, less often - single or two.

The fruit is a five-leaf multi-seeded capsule that opens from top to bottom.

The seeds are rod-shaped, from 0.5 to 2 mm in length.

Rhododendron grows both singly and in groups and thickets, often in the undergrowth, and rises along mountain slopes to the alpine belt of mountains. Also grows in swamps, pigweeds and tundra. Prefers lime-free, moist but well-drained soils without stagnant moisture. Requires high air humidity and slight shading by trees and shrubs.

Rhododendron grows slowly, especially in the first years. The root system is superficial, compact, consisting of numerous fibrous roots. Propagated by seeds, cuttings, layering and division.

It is a good early spring honey plant. The bark and leaves are rich in tannins.

In the Russian Far East, 11 species and 2 forms of rhododendron grow:

Golden rhododendron (Rhododendron aureum Georgi)

Rhododendron hypopitys Pojark.

Short-fruited rhododendron (Rhododendron brachycarpum D. Don)

Rhododendron parvifolium Adam

Adams rhododendron (Rhododendron adamsii Rehd.)

Rhododendron mucronulatum Turcz.

Rhododendron dauricum L.

Rhododendron sichotense Pojark.

Rhododendron tschonoskii Maxim.

Schlippenbach's rhododendron (Rhododendron schlippenbachii Maxim.)

Kamchatka rhododendron (Rhododendron camtschaticum Pall.)

Rhododendron redowskianum Maxim.

Rhododendron fauriei, pink (Rhododendron fauriei Franch.; Rhododendron brachycarpum Аuct.)

The name of this plant literally translates as “rose tree”. In terms of its appearance and many varieties, it is in no way inferior to the queen of flowers. We are talking about a beauty with an interesting name - rhododendron. What kind of flower is this, and what are the features of its cultivation? What types of it exist, and in what climatic conditions they can be grown - all this in our review today.
Rhododendron flowers

Rhododendron: what kind of flower is it?

Rhododendron belongs to the Heather family. External data may vary depending on the variety and type. Common features are large flowers collected in inflorescences or racemes. Rare specimens have small single flowers.

Leaves can differ not only in size, but also in shape, which comes in a wide variety of variations. Flowers are bisexual. Inflorescences come in the form of racemes or umbrellas. The color has a very rich range. After flowering is completed, fruits are formed: five-leaf boxes containing seeds.

In some species, the rhododendron flower (there is a photo in this article) can reach a diameter of twenty centimeters. Thanks to this amazing quality, each inflorescence looks like a separate bouquet and, after cutting, can retain its magnificent appearance for a long time.

The height of the rhododendron bush varies depending on the species from ten centimeters to ten meters. Their root system is very compact and located close to the surface, so young plants develop rather slowly.

The plant looks great in landscape design

Where is rhododendron common?

What is rhododendron is now clear, but where does it grow? The natural habitat for rhododendrons is humid highlands, as well as forests and wetlands. The plant is most widespread in the northern hemisphere, namely:

• in Greenland;
• in Alaska;
• on the island of Java;
• in China;
• in Japan;
• in the Alps;
• in the Himalayas.

Rhododendrons are also found in the southern part, but their natural habitats are:

• New Guinea;
• Australia.

In our country, the most favorable climatic conditions for this plant are in the Far East, as well as in the mountainous areas of the Caucasus.

Rhododendron in a mountainous area

Chemical composition

The chemical composition of rhododendron is very interesting. It contains a huge amount of tannins. In addition, the plant is an excellent honey plant; some species have healing properties. However, despite having all these positive qualities, many rhododendrons are poisonous. They contain neurotoxins that can first excite the nervous system and then gradually begin to depress it.

Rhododendron contains a lot of useful components:

• ericoline;
• manganese;
• aluminum;
• essential oil;
• hydroquinone;
• copper;
• barium;
• flavonoids;
• silver.

It will be simply wonderful if there is some kind of body of water near the chosen landing site. Otherwise, you will have to spray until the very beginning of flowering.

An excellent neighbor for rhododendron is pine. It protects it from direct sunlight, and its root system in no way interferes with the growth and development of the bush. But the following are considered undesirable neighbors: linden, alder, willow, maple and birch.

Rhododendron seedling

Rhododendrons: planting and care in open ground

Rhododendrons are quite difficult to grow. Planting and caring for these plants in open ground requires a lot of effort and patience. To plant a shrub, the first thing you need to do is dig a hole about half a meter deep. The width will depend on the size of the seedling's root system. Drainage must be placed at the bottom, since the roots are highly sensitive to excess moisture. They rot quite quickly, which leads to the death of the plant.

The soil should be chosen that is acidic, loose, and has good air permeability. Under no circumstances should wood ash or other alkaline components be added to the soil. Mineral fertilizers are selected without containing chlorine and calcium.

Before planting, the soil clump of the seedling is generously moistened with a solution of a growth stimulator. These actions are carried out at least 10 hours before disembarkation. Rhododendrons can be planted from spring to late autumn.

Young rhododendron in open ground

Planting rhododendrons in the Moscow region and caring for them

When planting, do not deepen the root collar too much. The final stage is mulching. Pine bark or pine needles are best suited as mulch. It is not worth loosening the soil in the future, since you can damage the roots of the shrub located close to the surface.

You can grow rhododendrons in the Moscow region. Planting and caring for them will be no different from what is described above.

With proper care, the plant will delight you with abundant flowering

How to cover a rhododendron for the winter

Winter frosts and cold can destroy rhododendron. Autumn care and preparation for winter of this shrub is a very important moment. First of all, the roots are insulated. A protective layer can be peat or dry fallen leaves, which are laid in a layer of 15 centimeters.

What is the best way to cover a rhododendron for the winter? Arches are installed over the bush for the winter. Subsequently, covering material is stretched over them. As soon as the temperature drops significantly and reaches minus 10 degrees, a layer of thick film is spread over this, and then secured on top with more arcs. If possible, all this is covered with a layer of snow. Sheltering rhododendron for the winter in the Moscow region is carried out according to the same scheme, but taking into account the humidity of the climate and changeable weather conditions. At any time you need to be able to check the condition of the bush.

As a rule, winter shelters are made by all gardeners who grow rhododendrons on their site. Frost-resistant varieties (photos presented in this article), of course, exist, but even they cannot withstand the harsh conditions of certain regions.

The process of covering a bush

Reproduction

Rhododendron can reproduce in several ways:

• cuttings;
• layering;
• seeds;
• dividing the bush.

The seed method is practically not used, since it takes a lot of time and requires a lot of labor and patience. Cuttings are carried out in early summer. It is necessary to cut the required number of cuttings, remove the lower leaves from them and leave them in a container with a solution of a root growth stimulator for a day. After this, the branches are planted in the prepared substrate and covered with glass jars. Place the seedlings in a bright room with a temperature of at least 25 degrees. After three months, the young plants will develop a root system, and by spring they will be ready for planting in open ground.

Rhododendron sprigs

Disease and pest control

With proper care, rhododendron is less susceptible to disease. But if the recommended growth conditions are violated, the plant may develop rust, spotting, and chlorosis. In this case, the affected parts of the bush are removed, and the bush itself is treated with a fungicide solution.

Garden snails and slugs, which often plague rhododendron, need to be collected and destroyed regularly. But when pests such as spider mites, weevils or scale insects appear, insecticide treatment will be required.

Example of rhododendron disease

Pruning and feeding

When watering rhododendron with ordinary water, it is recommended to acidify it. They do this so that over time the bush does not lose its decorative effect. Citric acid or table vinegar is used as an acidifier.

Feeding of shrubs is carried out extremely rarely. Complex fertilizer is applied in early spring, and then after flowering is completed. Also in the spring, you can add rotted manure to the top layer of soil.

Rhododendron bush pruning diagram

To maintain decorativeness and form a thick, beautiful crown in the fall, rhododendron is pruned. Excess shoots are removed completely, and the remaining length is reduced by a third. This technique promotes lush flowering next season. But it is extremely undesirable to carry out pruning in the spring.

Rhododendron (Rhododendron) is a member of the Ericaceae family. This genus is represented by shrubs and trees that are deciduous, semi-deciduous and evergreen. According to various sources, this genus includes 800–1300 species, including azaleas, which are very popular among gardeners; they are also called “indoor rhododendron.” The name of this plant includes 2 words: “rhodon”, which translates as “rose” and “dendron” - meaning “tree”. In this regard, rhododendron means “tree with roses” or “rose tree”. The fact is that azalea flowers are similar in appearance to roses. In the wild, rhododendrons are most widespread in the Northern Hemisphere (in Southern China, the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, Japan and North America). They prefer to grow in the coastal zone of seas, rivers and oceans, on the northern slopes of mountains and in the partial shade of undergrowth. Some species reach a height of 0.3 m, while others are creeping shrubs. Flowers of different species of this genus differ from each other not only in color, but also in shape and size. For example, the largest flowers can reach 0.2 m in diameter, while the smallest ones are simply tiny. Today there are approximately 3 thousand varieties, forms and varieties of garden rhododendron.

Garden rhododendron is a shrub. Different species may differ from each other in the size and shape of the leaf blades, which are biennial, annual and perennial, petiolate or sessile, alternately arranged, serrate or entire, obovate or ovate. This plant is relatively popular in all countries of the world due to its decorative foliage, as well as beautiful flowers that are part of racemes or corymbose inflorescences, which look like amazingly beautiful bouquets. Flowers can be colored pink, purple, white, red or lilac. The shape of the flowers directly depends on the type and variety of the plant and can be funnel-shaped, tubular, bell-shaped or wheel-shaped. In some species, the flowers have a pleasant smell. The fruit is a five-leaf multi-seeded capsule, inside of which there are two-millimeter seeds. The superficial compact root system of this crop consists of a large number of fibrous roots. Due to the fact that the root system is superficial, replanting rhododendron is quite easy, and the plant tolerates it well. This shrub is considered an excellent early spring honey plant.

Choosing the time and place of landing

In mid-latitudes, it is recommended to cultivate only those types of rhododendron that are highly frost-resistant. You can plant the plant in open soil from April to the second half of May, and also in September–November. Experienced gardeners plant rhododendron throughout the entire growing season, with the exception of the flowering time of such a shrub, and this should not be done for 7–15 days after flowering.

For planting, you should choose a shaded area located on the north side of the building. The soil should be well-drained, loose, contain a large amount of humus and be acidic. If the depth of groundwater in the area is less than 100 cm, then to plant this shrub you will have to make a raised bed. Rhododendron can be planted next to trees such as oak, pine, larch, since their root system goes deep. This shrub is not recommended to be planted next to chestnut, maple, elm, linden, alder, willow and poplar, because their root systems are at the same depth as the rhododendron, so the latter will lack the required amount of nutrients and moisture. If the rhododendron still has to be planted next to one of the listed trees, then the edges of the planting hole will need to be protected by digging slate, roofing felt or polyethylene into the soil. The best neighbors for this crop are pear and apple trees.

Prepare a hole for planting, so its depth should be approximately 0.4 m, and its diameter should be about 0.6 m. You need to pour into it a soil mixture consisting of 3.5 buckets of loam (can be replaced with a couple of buckets of clay), as well as 8 buckets of high-moor peat. It should be mixed thoroughly. Then the soil mixture poured into the hole must be thoroughly compacted. After which a hole is made in it, the size of which should be equal to the size of the root ball of the plant being planted. Immediately before planting, the seedling must be immersed in a container filled with water. And it is necessary to pull it out only after air bubbles stop coming to the surface of the water. After this, the root system must be placed in a hole, which is filled with soil mixture; it must be compacted very well, so that there are no voids. The root collar of a planted seedling should be flush with the surface of the site. Planted plants need abundant watering. If the rhododendron was planted in dry soil, then the amount of watering should be such that the soil is wet to a depth of 20 centimeters. Then the surface of the tree trunk circle should be covered with a layer of mulch (oak leaves, pine needles, peat or moss), and its thickness should be 50–60 mm. If the seedling has a large number of buds, then some of them need to be torn off, in this case the plant’s forces will be directed to rooting, and not to lush flowering.

If only one rhododendron bush is planted in a spacious area, then the wind can shake the seedling. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to install a support, and it must be tilted towards the direction of the most often blowing winds. Then the planted plant is tied to the support. After the plant has taken root, the support can be removed if desired.

Rhododendron needs good care. It must be sprayed, watered, fed, weeded, formative pruning, and, if necessary, protected from pests and diseases in a timely manner. It is impossible to loosen or dig up the surface of the soil under the bushes due to the superficial location of the plant’s root system. Weeding must be done manually; using a hoe for this purpose is strictly prohibited.

The level of atmospheric and soil moisture is especially important for this crop compared to other garden plants, especially during budding and flowering. It is very important to water rhododendron correctly, because this has a significant impact on the formation of flower buds for the next season. It is necessary to water the plant exclusively with soft water (settled or rain). Some gardeners soften and also acidify the water very simply; to do this, they mix it with high-moor peat 24 hours before watering; you need to take a few handfuls. Based on the condition of the leaf blades, you can determine how often a given shrub should be watered. The plant needs watering if the foliage becomes dull and loses turgor. During watering, the soil should be soaked to a depth of 20 to 30 centimeters. But when watering, it is also very important that liquid does not stagnate in the soil, since the root system reacts extremely negatively to this. When water stagnates, rhododendron behaves in exactly the same way as when there is a lack of moisture, namely, the leaf plates curl up and droop. To avoid waterlogging, it is necessary to water the shrub during the hot dry period in the same way as always, but it must be moistened quite often from a sprayer, using soft water.

Since bushes most often have a naturally regular shape, there is no need for strong formative pruning. As a rule, the plant needs pruning if the bush has become excessively tall, if rejuvenating pruning is necessary, or if frost-damaged stems need to be cut off.

What are the rules for pruning mature shrubs? Pruning of the stems is carried out in the spring, and it must be done before the sap begins to flow. Cuts on branches whose thickness is from 20 to 40 mm must be coated with garden varnish. The awakening of dormant buds on the stems begins after 4 weeks, at the same time the renewal process begins, which lasts throughout the year. If the bush is very damaged by frost or is old, then it should be shortened to 0.3–0.4 meters, while one half of the bush is cut off in the first year, and the second the next.

Such plants have one very important feature. So, in one year their flowering and fruiting are distinguished by their abundance, while the next year they bear fruit and bloom much more sparingly. However, this frequency can be corrected. To do this, after flowering is over, break out all the faded inflorescences. In this case, the shrub will direct all the saved strength and nutrients to laying flower buds for the next season.

Feeding rhododendron

Even shrubs planted this season need feeding. The plant is fed for the first time during the season at the beginning of the spring, and the last time is at the end of July, when the plant fades and young stems begin to grow. Experts recommend using liquid fertilizers to feed this crop, which should include horn meal and half-rotted cow manure. To prepare such a fertilizer, manure should be combined with water in a ratio of 1:15, then it should sit for several days, only after which it can be fed to the bushes. Before feeding the rhododendron, it must be watered thoroughly.

Such plants need acidic soil; therefore, mineral fertilizers should be chosen that will not disturb the reaction of the environment. Thus, it is recommended to use superphosphate, phosphate, potassium nitrate and sulfate, ammonium sulfate, calcium sulfate and magnesium, and take them in a weak concentration (1.2:1000). And the solution of potassium fertilizers should be even weaker.

• at the beginning of spring, organic matter or mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen are applied, while 50 grams of magnesium sulfate and the same amount of ammonium sulfate are taken per 1 square meter of land;
• in the first days of June, when the plant fades, 20 grams of potassium sulfate and superphosphate, as well as 40 grams of ammonium sulfate are added per 1 square meter of land;
• The rhododendron is fed for the third time in July, with 20 grams of potassium sulfate and superphosphate taken per 1 square meter of land.

Most often, this shrub is inhabited by mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites, bedbugs, weevils, rhododendron flies, as well as slugs and snails. When gastropods appear on the bushes, they should be collected manually, and for preventive purposes, the plant is sprayed with a solution of the fungicidal drug Thiram or TMTD (8%).

If rhododendron bugs, spider mites or weevils have settled on a rhododendron, then it must be sprayed with Diazinon. Moreover, when affected by weevils, not only the bush is treated, but also the surface of the earth around it. In order to get rid of other pests, use Karbofos, and you need to follow the instructions given in the instructions.

Most often, such a plant suffers from fungal diseases, for example: cancer, rust, chlorosis or leaf spot. Most often, such diseases develop as a result of insufficient aeration of the root system. If the bush is affected by rust and spotting, it is necessary to spray it with copper-containing preparations, for example, Bordeaux mixture. When diseased with chlorosis, the bush changes its color to yellow; in this case, iron chelate must be added to the water for irrigation. If the rhododendron has cancer, then it is necessary to either cut off the affected stems to healthy tissue or remove them altogether. For prevention purposes, at the beginning of the spring and late autumn, the bushes should be sprayed with Bordeaux mixture.

Rhododendron propagation

This plant can be propagated by seeds or vegetative methods: layering, grafting, dividing the bush and cuttings. The fastest and easiest way to propagate such a plant is by layering.

To sow seeds, use bowls that are filled with moist peat or heather soil mixed with sand (3:1). After the seeds are sown, they are sprinkled with sand on top, which must be washed. The top of the containers must be covered with glass, and then they are transferred to a well-lit place. Crops must be watered in a timely manner, ventilated every day, and condensation must be regularly removed from the surface of the glass. As a rule, the first seedlings appear after 30 days. When the seedlings have formed a pair of true leaf blades, they will need to be planted more freely, using a 2x3 centimeter pattern. When transplanting, seedlings should be buried along the cotyledons, this will allow the formation of a strong root system. In the first year of life, seedlings must be grown in a cool greenhouse. In the second year, the seedlings should be transplanted into open soil into training beds with garden soil mixed with a small amount of peat and sand. Such seedlings are characterized by relatively slow growth. Their first flowering can be seen only in 6–8 years.

Cuttings are also a rather complex method of propagation. Semi-lignified stems are used to take cuttings. The length of the cuttings can vary from 50 to 80 mm. The lower leaf plates from the cut cuttings should all be torn off. In this case, the lower sections must be immersed in a solution of a root growth stimulating agent (for example, heteroauxin) for 12–16 hours. For rooting, the cuttings are planted in a substrate consisting of sand and peat (1:3). Then the container on top needs to be covered with a transparent dome. Rooting cuttings is a long and difficult process. Thus, the rooting of evergreen species lasts from 3 to 4.5 months, and deciduous species - 6 weeks. For growing, the cuttings are planted in boxes filled with a substrate consisting of pine needles and peat (1:2). During the winter period, the cuttings should be kept in a well-lit and cool (8 to 12 degrees) room. With the onset of spring, a box with cuttings should be buried in the garden plot. There they will grow for another 1 or 2 years, only after this the cuttings can be transplanted to a permanent place.

Bends

The easiest and most natural method of propagating this crop is by dropping cuttings. In spring, you should choose a low-growing young flexible shoot; it must be bent and placed in a prepared groove, the depth of which must be at least 15 centimeters. The middle part of the stem must be fixed in the groove by pinning it. Next, the groove is filled with garden soil combined with peat. The top of the stem remaining on the surface must be tied to a vertically installed peg. When watering the bush itself, you should not forget to moisten the cuttings. In autumn or with the onset of next spring, the cuttings must be cut off from the parent plant and planted in a permanent place. This method is excellent for propagating deciduous rhododendron.

Autumn care

If there is a drought in autumn, then the rhododendron will need regular, abundant watering, so 10–12 liters of water should be poured under 1 bush. If systematic rains are observed in autumn, then there is no need to water such plants. In November, the root system of the shrub should be insulated; for this, the surface of the tree trunk circle should be mulched with a layer of peat.

Wintering

If rhododendron is grown in mid-latitudes, then after the first frost the bushes should be insulated. To do this, pine or spruce branches are inserted between the branches of the plant, and the bush itself is slightly tied with twine. Then it should be covered with burlap. The bags should be removed from the plants in early spring after the snow cover has melted, and choose a cloudy day for this. If rhododendron is cultivated in a region with a fairly warm climate, then it does not need shelter for the winter.

Types and varieties of rhododendrons with photos and names

There are a very large number of species of rhododendron. Below we will describe those species that are cultivated by gardeners, as well as the most popular garden varieties.

Dahurian rhododendron (Rhododendron dahuricum)

Under natural conditions, this species is found on rocks and in coniferous forests of Northeast China, Eastern Siberia, Primorsky Krai, Korea and Northern Mongolia. This medium-sized evergreen shrub is highly branched, its height can vary from 200 to 400 cm. The color of the bark is gray. The branches are directed upwards. Brown-red thin shoots closer to the tips have pubescence, which is a short pile. The length of small leathery leaf plates is about 30 mm, their front surface is smooth, and their back surface is scaly. The color of young leaves is pale green, and over time they become dark green; in autumn they turn green-red or brown. In winter, only a small part of the foliage flies away. The flowering is quite lush and lasts about 20 days. The flowers bloom before the foliage opens. They are large, funnel-shaped, pink-violet in color, and reach 40 mm in diameter. In autumn, re-blooming is sometimes observed. This species is highly resistant to frost, and it also propagates well from green cuttings. There are 2 varieties:

• evergreen form - the color of the foliage is dark green, and the flowers are lilac-purple;
• garden early hybrid - this low-growing plant blooms very luxuriantly, the flowers reach 50 mm in diameter, they open very early and are painted in a rich red-blue color, this form is less frost-resistant compared to the main type.

Adams rhododendron (Rhododendron adamsii)

This evergreen shrub grows on rocky slopes and in mountain forests of the Far East, as well as the northeastern foothills of Tibet. The height of the branched bush can reach up to 50 cm. On the surface of the shoots there is pubescence consisting of glandular pile. Matte dense leaf plates of green color have an oblong-elliptical shape in length and width; they can reach about 20 mm. Their front surface is bare, and on the back there are scales, which is why it has a red color. The scutes consist of 7–15 flowers, reaching 15 mm in diameter, they are colored in various shades of pink. This species is included in the Red Book of Buryatia.

Japanese rhododendron (Rhododendron japonicum)

The homeland of this species is Japan, or more precisely, the island of Honshu, where it prefers to grow on sunny mountains. This species is one of the most beautiful deciduous rhododendrons. The height of the branched shrub can reach up to 200 cm. The stems are bare or have silvery bristles on their surface. The green leaf plate has an oblong-lanceolate shape, and there is soft pubescence on both the front and back surfaces. In autumn, the foliage turns red-orange. The brushes consist of 6–12 fragrant, bell-shaped flowers, reaching 80 mm in diameter and having a red-scarlet or orange color. Of all the species grown in mid-latitudes, this species is the most beautiful. It has high frost resistance, and also reproduces well by seed and cuttings.

Caucasian rhododendron (Rhododendron caucasicum)

This species is found in nature in the Caucasus. This not very tall shrub is evergreen, its branches are creeping. Leathery dark green leaf plates, located on fairly thick long petioles, have an oblong-oval shape. Their front surface is bare, and their back surface is felt-red. On the hairy peduncles there are racemes consisting of 8–10 fragrant flowers, funnel-bell-shaped and pale green in color, with green spots inside the pharynx. Decorative forms:

• pink-white - flowering begins earlier than the main species;
• shiny - the color of the flowers is dark pink;
• golden yellow - there are pale green specks on the surface of the yellow flowers;
• straw yellow - light red spots are located on the surface of yellow flowers.

Gardeners also cultivate such species as: Albrecht rhododendron, Atlantic rhododendron, Vazeya rhododendron, holoflowered, tree-like, yellow, coarse-haired, western, golden, Indian, Kamchatka, Canadian, Carolina, Carpathian, carpal, sticky, short-fruited, blushing, largest, large-leaved, Katevbinsky , Lapland, Ledebura, small-leaved, marigold, sea buckthorn, pointed, dense, Pontic, attractive, pukhansky, rusty, equal-tall, pink, Sikhotinsky, plum-leaved, obtuse, rooting, Yakushimansky, etc.

This includes hybrids and varieties that are cultivated by gardeners. Hybrid rhododendron is a garden rhododendron. The most popular varieties are:

1. German cultivar Alfred. This variety was obtained by crossing the Katevba rhododendron with the Everestina variety. This evergreen shrub reaches a height of 1.2 m. The crown diameter is approximately 150 cm. The glossy dark green leaf plates have an oblong-elliptical shape. Dense inflorescences consist of 15–20 flowers of rich purple color, which have a green-yellow spot, reaching 60 mm in diameter.
2. Variety Blue Peter. It was developed by crossing Pontian rhododendron. The bush reaches a height of more than 150 cm. The spreading crown has a diameter of about 200 cm. The diameter of the lavender-blue flowers reaches 60 mm, they have a corrugated edge, and on the upper petal there is a speck of dark purple color.
3. Jacksony. This English hybrid was obtained by crossing the Caucasian rhododendron and the Nobleanum variety. The height of the shrub is approximately 200 cm, and its crown reaches about 300 cm in diameter. There is a low-growing form, the height of which does not exceed 0.8 m. The leathery leaf plates of an oblong shape have a matte green front surface and a brown underside. The inflorescences consist of 8–12 flowers, which during the opening process are colored pink, then it changes to white, with a yellow-white spot forming on one of the petals.
4. Rose Marie. A Czech variety obtained by crossing the magnificent rhododendron and the Pink Pearl variety. The shrub reaches a height of 1.2 m, and the diameter of the crown is 150 cm. The leathery leaf plates have an oblong-elliptical shape, they have a waxy coating on the greenish front surface, and the underside is green-blue and shiny. The edges of the flowers are painted soft pink, which towards the middle changes to deep pink with a purple tint. Compact, spherical inflorescences consist of 6–14 flowers.
5. Nova Zembla. This Dutch hybrid was bred by crossing the Katevbinsky rhododendron and the Persone Gloriosum variety. The height of the bush is approximately 300 centimeters, and the loose crown reaches about 350 cm in girth. The stems grow almost vertically. The leathery glossy leaf plates are quite large. Dense inflorescences consist of 10–12 large flowers, reaching 60 mm in diameter, they are colored red and have a black spot.
6. Cunningham. This Scottish cultivar is a very popular variety of Caucasian rhododendron. The height of the bush is approximately 200 cm, and the crown reaches 150 cm in diameter. The length of the dark green leathery leaf plates of an oblong shape is about 60 mm, and the width is 30 mm. Dense inflorescences consist of 10 white flowers, on the surface of which there are yellow spots.

Many non-professional gardeners, seeing a gorgeous rhododendron in the picture, decide to decorate their garden plot with it at all costs. However, in most cases, having bought and planted the treasured bush on his plot, the gardener notices that his rhododendron is not as beautiful as expected, and besides, it gradually withers and dies. Therefore, most gardeners are wondering whether it is possible to successfully cultivate such a heat-loving shrub in the Moscow region? And in general, is it possible to grow such a plant in unusual middle latitudes? If everything is done correctly, then this is quite possible.

First of all, you should choose the right variety that can survive the fairly frosty winter months. The fact is that heat-loving species and varieties, even if they are very well covered, will still freeze out in winter. Deciduous species are very suitable for growing in such conditions: Japanese, yellow, Schlippenbach, Vazeya, Canadian, Kamchatka, Pukhan rhododendron. Among the semi-evergreens, you can choose Ledebourg rhododendron. For growing in the middle latitudes, the Katevba rhododendron (as well as its hybrids Alfred, Abraham Lincoln, Nova Zembla, Cunningham White), as well as the short-fruited, golden, and largest rhododendrons and the Smirnova rhododendron and its hybrids Gabriel, Dorothy Swift, Laika, are suitable for growing in the middle latitudes. Finnish breeders have recently developed fairly winter-hardy varieties Elvira, Hague, and Mikkeli. Hybrids of the Northern Light group Rosie Lights, Pink Lights, Spicy Lights, etc. also tolerate the harsh winter of mid-latitudes well.

It is not enough to purchase a suitable seedling; you still need to plant it correctly:

1. Planting is done in spring. The site should be in partial shade, and the distance between the seedling and any other plant should be at least 100 cm.
2. For planting, it is recommended to buy a special soil mixture. If you wish, you can do it at home; for this you will need pine needles, garden soil and peat. It is necessary to add complex mineral fertilizer to the soil.
3. The size of the planting hole should be a couple of times larger than the container in which the plant is located. If the soil is clayey, then at the bottom of the hole you will need to make a good drainage layer of broken brick, the thickness of which should be about 15 centimeters.
4. After planting, the root collar of the plant should be at the same level as in the container.
5. The planted plant needs abundant watering.

Rhododendron cultivated in mid-latitudes should be cared for in almost the same way as those plants grown in regions with a milder climate. However, there are still a few differences. Rules of care:

1. For planting, acidic humus soil should be used. In those places where the roots will absorb nutrients, there should be no wood ash, dolomite, lime and other additives that can alkalize the soil.
2. The surface of the tree trunk circle must be covered with a layer of mulch. This is especially important because due to the horizontally located roots, loosening and digging the soil around the plant is prohibited.
3. In spring, the bush must be protected from the scorching rays of the sun. Gauze, mesh or cloth are suitable for this.
4. It is very important to choose the correct watering mode. This plant should receive as much moisture as it requires. During the dry, hot period of summer, the shrub should be watered 2 times every 7 days. If the weather is rainy and fairly warm in the autumn, then young shoots begin to grow on the bushes, but before they ripen they die in the winter. To prevent such activation of stem growth, the bush should be treated with a fine spray with a solution of polyphosphate or potassium sulfate (1%) and do this on a dry day. This will lead to a halt in growth, as well as stimulation of lignification of the stems and the formation of flower buds for the next season. After the shrub has been processed, all watering should be stopped, even if there is drought and heat.

Rhododendron is a very beautiful plant, and it also has healing properties that have been used for many years in both official and alternative medicine. The species Rhododendron daurian, golden, Adams, and Caucasian include andromedotoxin, ericolin, arbutin and rhododendrin. The foliage contains ascorbic acid, and in summer its concentration in the plant is highest. Thanks to the substances included in this plant, it has an analgesic, sedative, antipyretic, antibacterial and diaphoretic effect. It can also remove excess fluid from the body, eliminate swelling, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, increase cardiac activity, and also reduce venous and blood pressure.

But one should not assume that this plant is absolutely harmless. Products made from rhododendron should not be used by people suffering from serious kidney disease and tissue necrosis, as well as by pregnant and breastfeeding women. It is also recommended that before taking such a remedy for the first time, consult a specialist.