Schlippenbach's rhododendron: description and characteristics of the species, planting and care

Rhododendron is an ideal plant for a shady garden. Unlike many crops, it does not require an abundance of sunlight to bloom. In Schlippenbach's rhododendron, pink caps of inflorescences form even before the leaves bloom. A delicate fragrance emanates from them. Further, a detailed description of the shrub, the history of occurrence, information about planting and caring for the crop in the garden.

Detailed description

Shlippenbach rhododendron bushes planted in a garden plot reach a height of 2 meters. In one place, the culture can grow up to 40 years. For the fragrant pink buds that cover the plant during flowering, it received the name pink tree.

Leaves

On the tops of numerous gray branches rosettes of leaves are located. Their color changes from light green in spring to orange-red in autumn. Leaf plates are narrow, corrugated, wavy at the edges.

Flowers

Rhododendron flowering begins in late April or early May. The petals of the buds are painted with a pale pink palette. In full bloom, the flowers reach a diameter of 8 centimeters. Long stamens peep out from the core, the ends of which are covered with pollen.

Fruit

Flowering ends with the formation of an oblong-shaped box, inside which there are seeds. They can propagate a plant in the garden.

History of occurrence

The shrub got its name in honor of Alexander Yegorovich Schlippenbach. An officer of the Russian fleet as part of the expedition passed the coast of Korea.On the slopes, he saw a plant blooming with large pink caps. The officer brought the shrub to Russia, where it has been successfully cultivated since 1854.

Healing properties

Rhododendron tea is not only delicious, but also medicinal. The leaves and flowers of rhododendron contain a large amount of useful substances. For example, vitamin C helps treat colds. Andromedotoxin has a positive effect on the functioning of the central nervous system. A warm drink of fragrant flowers helps relieve joint, muscle, headache.

Features of the species

In nature, there are many varieties of rhododendron. Schlippenbach is distinguished by an unusual shape of leaf plates, a delicate aroma emanating from pink large flowers.

Choosing a landing site

Rhododendron prefers to grow in humid conditions. Therefore, he will feel best planted near a pond, pool. But groundwater should not come close to the surface of the soil.

Rhododendron is placed in a slight shading. The bright rays of the sun have a negative effect on the shrub: the leaves turn brown. The area must be protected from cold winds.

Soil Requirements

Rhododendron prefers to grow in acidic soil. Therefore, a substrate is prepared for it, consisting of the following components:

peat;
compost;
turf land;
sand.

Pay attention! Only being in acidic soil, the plant will develop safely and bloom profusely.

Pit preparation and planting pattern

Plant a rhododendron in a permanent place in spring or autumn. Seedlings are pre-placed for 30-40 minutes in a bucket of water. Potassium permanganate is added to disinfect the root system. Landing is carried out as follows:

Dig a hole 40 centimeters deep, 60 centimeters wide.
A small layer of drainage is laid out at the bottom, consisting of expanded clay, small stones. You can also add spruce needles there.
The pit is filled with acidic substrate.
A seedling is placed in the middle, the root system is covered with soil from all sides.
Lightly tamp the soil, water abundantly.

To preserve moisture, the root circle is covered with mulching material. You can use the bark and needles of coniferous trees, peat.

Care

Alpine rose care consists of watering, fertilizing, pruning.

Irrigation

Rhododendron requires abundant watering. Water is used warm, separated. In the absence of rainfall, the ground under the bush is irrigated 2-3 times a week. Periodically use water acidified with lemon.

Feeding

In early spring, nitrogen is introduced to promote the growth of the vegetative mass. The next top dressing is in the spring, after flowering. Minerals are used, as well as peat or humus. For a successful wintering of plants, potassium is added in autumn.

Cutting

At a young age, Schlippenbach's rhododendron is shaped pruned. To do this, shorten the central shoot. After that, the rose tree begins to bush. Sanitary pruning is done in autumn. Remove old, dry, diseased branches.

Transfer

If necessary, the shrub is transplanted in spring or autumn. In this case, you need to try not to destroy the earthen clod. After transplanting, the root circle is watered abundantly, mulched.

Protection from diseases and pests

With improper care, rhododendron can be affected by diseases and pests. To prevent their appearance, fallen leaves are removed from the trunk circle, weeds are removed. In spring, shrubs are sprayed with fungicides and insecticides.

Flowering

For the abundant flowering of Schlippenbach's rhododendron is called a rose tree.

When and how

Culture blooms in late spring. Flowering lasts about a month. The buds begin to bloom before the leaves form. During flowering, a delicate aroma emanates from the bush.

Care before and after

Before budding, the shrub is fed. Water the plant abundantly throughout the season. After flowering, dried buds are removed, shoots are slightly shortened.

What to do if it doesn't bloom

If the rhododendron does not bloom, it is probably planted in the wrong place. In spring or autumn, it is dug up, transplanted into acidic, loose soil. The best place is partial shade.

Reproduction

Rhododendron is bred with seeds, cuttings, layering.

Shanks

For propagation, cut apical cuttings 15 centimeters long. They can first be placed in water for rooting or planted immediately in a container. Young bushes are planted on the site in a year.

Layers

The procedure for propagation by layering is carried out after the flowering of rhododendron. To do this, perform the following actions:

dig a groove 5-7 centimeters deep;
the shoot is bent to it, fixed with wire staples;
watered, covered with earth.

During the season, layering is cared for: watered, loosened, weeds removed. When the root system is well formed, the shoots are separated from the mother plant. Young bushes are transplanted to a permanent place.

Growing from seeds

Schlippenbach rhododendron seeds have good germination, so gardeners often use this method for propagation. The cultivation procedure is performed as follows:

loose soil is poured into a container with low sides;
sprayed with water from a spray bottle;
seeds are placed on the surface of the substrate, lightly pressed;
covered with transparent film;
The container is placed in a warm place.

When shoots appear, the film is removed, the container is placed in a cooler place. After the formation of the 2nd pair of true leaves, a pick is carried out. To do this, young plants are transplanted into individual pots. In the spring, the bushes are planted on the site.

Prevention of various problems

To prevent fungal diseases, rhododendron is sprayed with preparations containing copper before and after flowering. Foliage is removed from the near-stem circle, in which pest larvae can winter. Sprinkling is periodically arranged for the shrub in summer.

Important! Plants are sprayed against diseases and pests with special preparations before and after flowering.

Use in garden design

Schlippenbach's rhododendron is decorative not only during flowering, but also after it. It is planted next to shade-loving plants: fern, hosta, astilba, buzulnik, bergenia. Moisture-loving rhododendron will feel good when planted near a pond.

Reviews

According to gardeners, Schlippenbach's rhododendron grows low, up to 1.5 meters, begins to bloom 6-9 years after planting. The buds are large, fragrant, pale pink in color.

Irina, Moscow: “I grew Schlippenbach's rhododendron from seeds. I kept the plant in a pot for a long time. As soon as I landed in open ground, I immediately began to gain vegetative mass. Bloomed with large pink caps in the 9th year after the emergence of the sprout.”

Ivan Petrovich, Petrozavodsk: “My Schlippenbach rhododendron grows in partial shade from an apple tree. So far, his height is a little over a meter. When planting in a hole, he poured heather earth. Once a month I water it with lemon-sour water. The shrub blossomed 6 years after planting.”