Rhododendron schlippenbachii

Beautifully flowering, rather large, deciduous, spreading-branched shrub that develops in the form of a tree (in culture it reaches a height of 1.6 m, at home 2-4 m). The bark of old branches is light gray, young shoots are rusty-iron-pubescent, later glabrous, brownish. Leaves are soft, drooping, collected in 5 at the ends of the shoots, broadly obovate, wedge-shaped, narrowed to a short petiole, with a slightly wavy edge, ciliate in the lower part of the plate. Above, the leaves are dark green, almost glabrous, from below with rare pubescence along the veins; in autumn they are painted in spectacular, yellow-red tones. Flowers with a delicate aroma, large, 7-10 cm in diameter, with a wide, spike-shaped, bell-shaped, pale pink corolla, with purple specks inside, collected in 3-6 umbellate inflorescences. It blooms at the same time as the leaves open.

 

Winter hardiness of flower buds -29-31 ° С (without snow). This species winters well in the middle lane and does not require shelter. In snowless winters, you can cover it purely preventively. The shoots are lignified completely, the growth is annual.

 

Differs in increased ability to root branches. Reproduces well by seeds. One of the most promising species for ornamental gardening, but still not widespread in culture. Very good for single plantings and small groups on the lawn. In culture since 1893.

 

USDA Hardiness Zone (°F): 4b (-25 to -20 °F)