Rhododendron 'SOUTHLAND'

Rhododendron
Rhododendron 'SOUTHLAND'
compact rhododendron
SIZE/TYPE medium-sized shrub
USUAL HEIGHT 0.8-1.5m
USUAL WIDTH 0.8-1.5m
LEAVES evergreen broadleaf
COLOUR OF LEAVES green
FLOWERS showy
COLOUR OF FLOWERS ++multicolored:white and pink and cream
BLOOMING TIME May
LOCATION full to partial sun
USDA zone (lowest) 6   (down to -23°C)
WINTER PROTECTION  
FOR ZONE 5+6 Code of winter protection zone 5+6
FOR ZONE 7 Code of winter protection zone 7
BELONGS TO CATEGORIES Rhododendrons, azaleas, and mountain laurels
Evergreen broadleaf
náhled fotonáhled fotonáhled foto
Dwarf and compact rhododendrons are usually quite hardy and durable plants in our climate (continental Europe, zone 6), no wonder that some of its renowned hybrids were raised in our country - Czech Republic or former Czechoslovakia - too. They are hybrids of various species such as impeditum, keiskei, keleticum, minus and more. Most of them are small to very small, others grow a little larger while keeping a compact to almost congested habit. They commonly withstand full sun and our soil type which is far from perfect or ericaceous.

Southland is a compact, lepidote rhodododendron hybrid bred by Dr.August Kehr in 1971. It is a cross of r.minus var.chapmanii which ensures heat tolerance along with less demands for watering, and r.keiskei which extends plant's hardiness to at least zone 6. It is an early variety producing apricot pink buds from late April which open to broadly bell-shaped, soft pink flowers with pale salmon pink shades, and a sort of indescribable yellow flare thanks to which the plant appears as if glowing like a limelight. Evergreen leaves are broadly elliptic, acute, medium green, not very glossy, 4-5 cm long. The plant exhibits a spreading, dome-shaped habit, and size of about a meter in 15-20 years. Introduced in 1988.

As a sun-tolerant species it can be placed in a large rockery or a border with other sun-loving ericaceous plants like heather and deciduous azaleas. It is a perfect ground cover under tall trees and a low companion for compositions with large shrubs. Unless you are making a bonsai do not prune it.

This dwarf or compact type of rhododendron can take any location from full sun to full shade, but thrives in full sun or slight shade, just make sure it is always well mulched. The roots are shallow, spreading to sides in search for nutrients. Never plant it 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. Fully hardy to min. -25°C (USDA zone 6), possibly a little more.

Last update 24-11-2019
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NOT IN STOCK? WHY NOT TO TRY A SIMILAR ONE:
Rhododendron minus (r.carolinianum)
GLOSSARY
  • STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
  • DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
  • EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
  • STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
  • HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
  • SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
  • HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
  • FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
  • GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
LARGE PLANTS over 150 cmspecimens, screening and hedging shrubs

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