Rhododendron 'HANS HACHMANN'

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.

This rhododendron is currently the flag ship of Hachmann’s nurseries in Germany. It was bred and introduced by Holger Hachmann in 2009, and named after his late father Hans Hachmann (†2004). It bears uniquely coloured flowers with almost white centres, deep violet purple margins, and velvety red blotch on the upper lip. All colours are distinctly divided from one another which enhance the multicoloured effect. The inflorescence is compact, erect, and may consist of 11 up to 22 individual flowers. The evergreen leaves are oblong, not particularly glossy, deep green with blue-green hues. It forms a very healthy shrub that grows about 1.3m tall and 1.5m wide in 10 years. It prefers partial shade.

For richer flowering and good growth dead-head where possible. 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. Hardiness has so far been tested down to -23°C (USDA zone 6) without a damage, and is expected to go even lower.

Last update 20-01-2013