Rhododendron 'ANNA BALDSIEFEN'

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.

Anna Baldsiefen is a small-flowered rhododendron variety of compact, not dwarf habit. From late April produces masses of clear pink, broadly funnel-shaped, wide-open flowers with conspicuous white stamens. It blooms every year as it lacks the need for a flowering pause every other year like many large-flowered hybrids do. Evergreen leaves are leathery, dark olive green, rather matt, elliptic, 2-3 cm long, and not aromatic like most of the impeditum species which Anna Baldsiefien strongly resembles when young. It grows slowly, some 10 cm per year with bright red new twigs. It forms an upright shrub, however, for a neat and cushion-like habit or reduced size you may sheer it every year immediately after flowering. It was bred in 1956 by Warren Baldsiefen in his nursery in Rochelle Park, New Jersey, USA.

The roots are shallow, spreading to sides in search for nutrients. Never plant them too deep. The soil must well-drained, acidic (of pH value 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. It is hardy to min. -27°C (USDA zone 5b) and may withstand a few degrees lower (more trials pending).

Last update 21-01-2021