Dwarf varieties of rhododendron and rules for their care

Dwarf forms of exotic rhododendrons - bright carpets - thick floral coverings occupy a special place in the decoration of parks and gardens. Under the general name "Rhododendron" a large group of plants of the Vereskov family is united.

Almost all plants of this species are distinguished by beautiful and magnificent flowering, admiring the splendor of pink, white, purple, purple and red flowers of various shapes and sizes from 3 to 20 cm in diameter. Rhododendrons grown indoors are commonly called azaleas.

Brief definition

Dwarf rhododendron belongs to the family of the Heather genus Rodotamnus. Natural varieties grow in the rocky Alps, are found in Germany, Austria, Slovenia.

Detailed description

Dwarf rhododendron is a stunted evergreen bush, grows in height no more than 50 - 60 cm in adulthood. The crown is dense, pillow-shaped. The stems are numerous, raised, curl and creep to the ground. The leaves are small, up to 3-4 cm long, dark green. Grow alternately, oblong in shape, come back - convex. The leaf plate is covered with hairs or scales, depending on the sub grade.

The flowers are axillary, bell-shaped or cup-shaped, small, up to 4 - 5 cm in diameter. Inflorescences collect 2 to 3 flowers, densely planted. The colors are the most diverse - pale lemon, pink, raspberry, dark red. Fruits ripen in a longitudinal box. The root is flat, 30 - 40 cm tall in an adult bush.

History of occurrence

Dwarf rhododendron belongs to the Alpine endemic in the East. Their area is limited, unfortunately, natural species belong to rare plants, many varieties are listed in the Red Book.

Dwarf rhododendron is an ornamental shrub, with its participation in modern breeding, many intergeneric hybrids of Kalmyopsis, flowering Phyllodots of the Vereskov family, have been bred.

What is the difference from the rest of the species?

The main difference between the dwarf species of rhododendron - exot refers to calciphiles, that is, it lives in nature in calcium, limestone, chalk soils on rocky slopes. Some species bloom repeatedly in August - September.

Low-growing varieties and their photos

Lyudlovi Wren

Rhododendron ludlowii "Wren" is a low-growing evergreen shrub, almost pressed to the ground. The height of the dwarf bush reaches 20 - 30 cm. The flowers are bright lemon, medium in size. The leaves are evergreen, small, oblong, up to 2.5 - 3 cm in length. Frost tolerance is average, but with spruce shelter it tolerates frosts well.

Baden Baden

The shrub is creeping, stunted, its height reaches 50-60 cm. The crown is thick, knocked down, pillow-shaped, prostrate. The flowers are bell-shaped, saturated - scarlet, shiny. The leaves are medium, oblong, elongated, dark green in color, may be darker.

The root is superficial, brittle, easily damaged when loosening. Blooms early in May. It can grow in the sun and in partial shade. Frost resistance is average, tolerates temperature drops to -27 ºС

Krumlov

The bush is thick, evergreen, dwarf. It grows to 50 cm. The crown is very dense, wide, grows with a diameter of up to 80 - 90 cm. The leaves are small, wide, oblong, up to 4 - 5 cm in length. Gently lilac flowers bloom in mid-May.

Able to tolerate frosts up to - 26 ºС, provided the landing site is protected from gusts of wind, in diffuse shade or in sunny places with shading. Bred in the Czech Republic, named after the town of Krumlov, the birthplace of exot.

Amethyst

The bush has a feature - the crown is very thick, it is called thick rhododendron. Evergreen shrub dwarf, in adulthood does not grow half a meter. The flowers are collected in large inflorescences, small in size, tightly planted on the stems, form a dense dense crown. The shrub blooms in late May with dark purple flowers with a blue tint.

The leaves are oblong, medium, 2–3 cm long, wide enough, leaf diameter –2.5–3 cm. Scaly foliage on both sides of its structure. Frost resistance is moderate, up to - 26 ºС. It prefers partial shade and a humus-rich substrate.

Elvira

A creeping variety of dwarf rhododendron, the bush extends along the substrate at a height of 40 - 50 cm. The flowers are medium, up to 5 cm in diameter, funnel-shaped in shape, dark red in color with dark spots on the central petal. Petals twisted, wavy.

Inflorescences - domes collect up to 10 flowers. The leaves are rounded, up to 4-6 cm in diameter. The bush does not tolerate drought. The variety is highly frost-resistant, subject to shelter and a mulched layer of substrate, capable of withstanding up to -30 ºС.

Bloom

When and how does this happen?

The flowering of dwarf rhododendron is generous, plentiful, occurs in May or at the very beginning of June. It lasts 3 weeks. The crown is dense, compact, almost impossible to see during flowering. Many varieties can bloom repeatedly in late August - early September.

Conditions of detention

Dwarf rhododendron is usually transplanted before and after flowering. During the ripening of the buds, the temperature should be reduced to 10 - 12 ° C. After flowering, strongly elongated shoots are pruned. Old inflorescences immediately after flowering need to be pruned for future flowering.

What if there are no buds?

For abundant flowering and the formation of new buds, you need to feed the bush with superphosphate. You should also check the bushes for fungi and garden pests.

Use in landscape design

Dwarf rhododendrons are used to create alpine slides, mixed rocky gardens - mixborders. Varieties look good in compositions with thuja, cypress and other coniferous plantings.

Care

Choosing the right place

For dwarf varieties, the optimal planting site is semi-shaded areas. It is good to plant these varieties near the needles, under its scattered shadow, the flowers are protected from the burning sun and gusty wind.

What should be the soil?

The soil for dwarf rhododendron is loose, drained, moist, but not swampy. Required Substrate:

• sheet land - 3 hours;
• peat - 2 hours;
• coniferous litter - 1 hour;
• mineral fertilizers - 60 - 70 g per 1 landing pit.

Landing

The best planting time for dwarf rhododendron is early spring. Landing pattern:

1. Dig a hole with a depth of 50 cm and a width of 70 cm.
2. Lay a drainage layer, at least 20 cm thick.
3. The distance between the bushes is up to 1.5 - 2 m.
4. The root falls asleep on the root neck.
5. The root does not deepen, it is placed above the soil level by 2 cm.
6. Lay a layer of mulch.
7. Abundantly water the seedling.

The composition of the mulch is peat, needles, a layer of up to 6 cm.

Temperature

The variety is frost-resistant, withstands temperatures drop to an average of -25 ° C. Dwarf rhododendron prefers a cool, humid climate, the optimum temperature is 10 - 12 ° C.

Watering

Watering for dwarf rhododendron is required plentiful in hot weather in the summer and moderate in the fall. In winter, watering is reduced by 2 times.

Water should be:

• acidified;
• peeled
• defended;
• rain.

Each bush consumes up to 10 liters of water.

Top dressing

For dwarf rhododendron it is important to use organic fertilizers: rotted manure is diluted in water 1:15, the solution should be insisted for several days. Intensive fertilizer - 1 time per week until the end of summer. Combine with watering. Flowers are fed with potassium and phosphorus, solution: 8 g per 10 liters of water.

In early spring, you can feed with special complex fertilizers:

• ammonium sulfate - 2 hours;
• superphosphate - 1 hour;
• potassium sulfate - 1 hour;

The solution is diluted - 30 g of the mixture per bush.

For young bushes, fertilizer doses are reduced by 1.5 - 2 times.

Pruning

Pruning is carried out 20 days after the end of flowering. Regular pruning of old shoots in half is also desirable.

Damaged stems, dried leaves and flowers are cut in time.

Transfer

A transplant of dwarf rhododendron is carried out in early spring or late September. Bushes usually tolerate transplanting, provided that the old earthen coma is preserved.

How to prepare for winter?

It is better to cover these varieties with medium frost resistance with burlap and coniferous branches. Remove the shelter in the spring, in parts, preferably on a cloudy day.

Breeding

Dwarf rhododendron in home floriculture propagated by cuttings:

1. In spring, cuttings are cut 8 cm long.
2. Cuttings are dipped for 24 hours in a solution with a root growth stimulator.
3. Planted in a finished special substrate to a depth of 2 cm.
4. Seedlings take root very slowly.
5. Seedlings are planted in open ground next spring.
6. Young seedlings are grown in the cellar.

Diseases and Pests

1. Attack the flower and garden snails and slugs. It is necessary to collect them manually and destroy.
2. Spider mite destroys leaves and stems. With a small lesion, spraying with a soap solution will help.
3. From rhododendron bugs and flies, scale insects the treatment of stems and branches with fungicides - kalbofos or tiram will help get rid of.
4. Weevil - A common flower pest. Spraying with any insecticides will help here.
5. From viral mosaic of leaves the processing of the substrate of the trunks will help; diseased branches and leaves need to be cut.

Prevention of various problems

To get rid of rust, powdery mildew, chlorosis, gray rot and other fungi, treatment is required - watering and spraying with fungicides. You can feed the flowers with potash - phosphorus fertilizers.

Problems can arise from damp soil, inappropriate substrate, improperly applied fertilizers or fungi.

Dwarf rhododendron will beautifully cover with its flowering flower beds and areas only with proper care, sufficient watering and good moisture.

Watch the video: How to Plant Dwarf Rhododendrons: Spring Garden Guide (November 2024).