Rhododendron 'SASKIA'

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.

Saskia is another beauty in the family of bi-coloured rhododendrons. It was bred by Hans Hachmann from Germany in 1994, and the number of varieties that preceded this one is incredible: seven plants needed to be put together in several stages to perform this. Saskia is a very compact plant with extremely eye-catching flowers. They are white in the throat and bright pink at margins. The blotch is orange yellow like curry. It grabs all attention in every border for as long as 3-4 weeks from late April when the first flowers open. Evergreen leaves are deep green, large, leathery, flat and rather matt. A 10-year old plant is only about a meter tall and a little wider making a nice shrub.

For a better looking plant 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 leave-mould. Hardy to min. -24°C (USDA zone 6) but it is expected to take stronger frost.

Last update 04-09-2015