Rhododendron 'RED JACK'

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.

Red Jack is a huge rhodo variety from the Netherlands from 1975. It produces large, widely funnel-shaped, brilliant red flowers with slightly frilled margins and gentle dotting in the throat from about mid May. Evergreen leaves are ovate, leathery, dull green, and matte. It can grow almost 3m tall and a little less wide.

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. -27°C (USDA zone 5b), possibly more.

Last update 28-02-2017