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Rhododendron impeditum

Ericaceae

Habitat: open places, not too dry

Flowering: spring

Height: 20 cm

Width: 50 cm

Soil: with humus, acid

In the wild species of dwarf Rhododendron cover huge areas of moorland and mountainside in western China and the Himalaya. In the garden we make do with a few plants, but their range of colour (mainly pinks and purples, but including white, yellow and red) and their reliable flower power make them invaluable for sites that are not too dry or (with some exceptions) too alkaline.

Rhododendron impeditum is one of several species in sub-section Lapponica with purple flowers, and blue-green foliage.
2 litre pot £8.00

		Rhododendron 'Blue Tit Group' is a hybrid derived from Rhododendron impeditum, making a compact shrub, albeit larger than its parent, but retaining the lavender blue flowers that are so typical of the species.
		Rhododendron calostrotum subsp. keleticum is almost prostrate and has glossy dark leaves with dense brown scales beneath. It bears trusses of up to three widely funnel-shaped, purplish crimson flowers, which are crimson spotted inside.
		Rhododendron 'Carmen' produces lovely bell-shaped flowers, which are dark crimson and waxy. The leaves are leathery and deep green. A dense but spreading low shrub for partial shade.
		Rhododendron 'Cilpinense' is one of the earliest to flower in the spring, with blush pink flowers contrasting with the shiny foliage, lined with short hairs. It is hardy (much more so than one of its parents), but, as with all early-flowering rhododendrons, and magnolias, a frosty night can turn the flowers to brown mush. Just wait for another year! - it rarely happens two years in a row, and hardly at all these days.
		Rhododendron hippophaeoides SDR4216 is rather taller than most members of the dwarf Lapponic sub-section, and in the wild it grows in quite wet places. In the garden it does well without requiring an unsually wet place, although it flourishes in damp spots, and it produces its full trusses of small pale purple flowers reliably each year.
		Rhododendron lapponica sub-sect. SDR5018 has not yet been identified, and it comes from an area that has been little botanised, so may be different. It is a little taller than most of its sub-section, and has slightly grey-green leaves and purple flowers.
		Rhododendron nivale subsp. nivale (= R. paludosum) is one of the Lapponica sub-section, with tiny leaves and bright purple flowers.
		Rhododendron 'Patty Bee' is a choice dwarf form with large primrose-yellow flowers. It has lovely bronze foliage in the autumn.
		Rhododendron 'Scarlet Wonder' is a compact evergreen with small leaves. Very free flowering with deep, cardinal-red, frilled flowers.
		Rhododendron trichostomum? SDR5159 is a densely branched shrub, making a neat dome, and taking a very long time to get too large for a rock garden. The flowers are in round clusters, pink or sometimes white, and often described as being like those of primulas - which are so variable that the comparison isn't very helpful - about as helpful as describing primula flowers as being like those of rhododendrons. Primula rhododendriflora???
		Rhododendron williamsianum has lovely ovate-rounded leaves, which are bronze when young, turning to bright green when mature. It produces loose trusses containing 2 or 3 bell-shaped, pink (sometimes white) flowers. It does best in full sun, where it will maintain its neat dome shaped habit.
		Rhododendron 'Wren' has pure primrose-yellow flowers, which are openly funnel-shaped. Small glossy dark green leaves turn bronze in the winter. Ideal for a small garden.