Named by some "the fat, rich stockbroker flower," the rhododendron is, like this fat elderly gardener and our mid-spring gardens, in full flower. The bushes are covered in beautiful flowers, all vying for the attention of huge bumblebees that work all day collecting the honey. We have only had bumblebees in Tasmania for the last four years. It is stated that one arrived here from New Zealand, which is quite a voyage. If this is true, how come there have been dozens in my gardens for the last two years? That's nearly as promiscuous as some perennials were last year, scattering their babies all over the place.
Most of the deciduous shrubs and trees have their new leaves. I never tire of the wonder of the freshness, the beauty and vulnerability of the gardens that transform from the austere beauty of winter to the abandoned joy of spring. How lucky gardeners are to enjoy this miracle of birth every year.
The rich, flashy Stockbroker's plant, the rhododendron is at its peak. For the ubiquitous rhododendron to be classified so scornfully, seems a little hard to me.
If you grow these beautiful plants, you must be sure of three things - acid soil, good annual rainfall and an acceptance that the garden will be full of colour for many weeks. There are not many evergreen shrubs that give you masses of flowers in a variety of colours [some most subtle, others brash], a perfume that drifts throughout the garden and interesting variety in leaf shape and colouring.
The large-leaved rhododendrons may have leaves as long as two feet and many varieties have an indentum varying in colour from cinnamon through to silver and new leaves that come in a rich plum shade. Certain varieties are tolerant of sun; others require shade. The variation in size stretches from mammoth tree rhododendrons [aboretum] to miniatures that would grace any rock garden.
Chosen with care, you may have rhododendrons in flower for 10 months of the year. Surface rooters, the bushes may be moved when quite large. Care must be taken to prepare the new position first; raise the soil and carry the plant carefully. A pruning of the roots and some of the branches before planting is a good idea. If your soil is not acidic enough and you are determined to grow them, why not play chess every few years and move the "Queen of Hearts" [excellent red] away from "King Tut" [a murky pink red] and put her to bed with "Prince Camille de Rohan" [a soft pink with scarlet blotch] and give her a nice blanket of acidic mulch?
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