Rhododendron 'EDELWEISS' rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendrons are reliable, beautifully flowering, evergreen shrubs of variable origin: S.W. China, Himalayas, Northern America, and even Europe. The original species were hybridized several times for better performance so in the 1950´s there were more than 10,000 cultivars registered, and the number keeps increasing.
Edelweiss is a Japanese rhododendron that belongs to the Yakushimanum group. These were crossed with the species originally found on Yakushima Island, Japan. It bears rich trusses of large, bell-shaped flowers that open from clear pink buds to only slightly pinkish white flowers with beautifully frilled margins. Evergreen leaves are elongated, quite large, dull green, with hairy underneath. Its further advantage is the suitability for insolate locations. It grows slowly, forming a dense and compact bush only about 60-80 cm tall and about twice as wide in full maturity. This makes it an excellent solution for even a small garden.
For richer flowering and growth dead-head where possible. Rhododendrons are low-maintenance shrubs that will perform superbly provided you plant them well. The roots are shallow, spreading to sides in search for nutrients. Never plant them too deep. The soil has to be acidic (pH 4.5-5.5), rich in humus, cool and always moist. Ideal soil mixture is peat with lime-free, light garden soil topped with leaf-mould. Fertilizing is not recommended, however, you can always use a special flower encourager. Fully hardy to about -24°C (USDA zone 6), possibly more.
Last update: 05-05-2011
