Rhododendron 'BROKAT'

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.

Another rhododendron variety with dark flowers is called Brokat. It was bred by Wilhelm Bruns (†2003) from Germany in 1998. The flowers are large, deep carmine red to dark wine purple and have an almost black blotch on the upper lip. Margins are gently frilled. Evergreen leaves are very nice provided the plant has good soil - they are elongated to lanceolate, leathery but thinner, and dark green. Brokat grows slowly into a flat-topped, compact 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. It is hardy to min. -29°C (USDA zone 5) but may take a few degrees lower.

Last update 31-01-2017