Yakushimansky rhododendron: description and characteristics of 16 sub-cultivars, planting and care with photos

Rhododendron (azalea) Yakushimansky - a beautiful shrub brought to Europe from Japan a hundred years ago, won the hearts of gardeners in our country. The evergreen plant reaches a maximum height of 1.5 meters. The shrub has taken root well in Russia, as it is able to withstand frosts down to -29 ^{С. Breeders are actively experimenting with the Yakushiman rhododendron, actively crossing it with other species.}

Short definition

Yakushiman rhododendron - a tree-like shrub with large original flowers with a diameter of 7 centimeters.

Detailed description

Yakushiman Azalea is a natural form of the Degrona rhododendron.

Specification of the species:

• The leaves are dark green, narrow, glossy.
• Flowers are large, collected in inflorescences.
• Slow growing shrub up to 1.5 meters high.
• The stems of the plant are treelike.
• The root system is superficial.
• Flowering continues from May to June.

Rhododendrons are classified as poisonous plants. A toxic resin forms on the leaves. If the sticky substance remains on the hands or enters the oral cavity, then poisoning cannot be avoided. All work with rhododendrons must be carried out with gloves. Animals and children are in the zone of increased danger, it is better not to let them near the Japanese azalea bushes.

History of occurrence

The small Japanese island of Yakushima is the birthplace of the Yakushiman rhododendron, where it grows in the mountains and uplands. The path to Europe began at the beginning of the 20th century, in 1934 the shrub was brought to the UK, then rapidly spread throughout the continent, gained popularity in Russia.

Distinguishing Features

Yakushiman rhododendron is able to decorate any landscape. It differs from its counterparts in a number of features:

• Extended flowering period.
• Undemanding to soil, can grow among stones.
• Frost resistance and winter hardiness.
• Does not tolerate direct sunlight, requires partial shade and regular abundant watering.

The leaves do not fall for the winter, the shrub belongs to the evergreen species.

Important! When planting, you can not fill the root neck with soil, the process of decay of the root system may begin .

Sub-grades

Varietal diversity is represented by various hybrids of Yakushimansky rhododendron. In order not to be disappointed in the plant, they buy seed and seedlings in trusted outlets, certified manufacturers.

Kalinka

Sprawling spherical bush up to 1 meter high. Forms flowers of saturated classic pink color with a border on the edges of the petals. Frost-resistant variety, prefers partial shade and fertile chernozem soils.

Percy Weissman

Hybrid rhododendron with luxurious salmon pink flowers. It is characterized by increased frost resistance, able to withstand frosts down to -30 ^{С. In inflorescences it forms up to 12 flowers with a diameter of 6 centimeters.}

Marrakesh

Spreading bush up to 70 centimeters high. The leaves are elliptical, glossy, dark green. Flowers of white and pink color are collected in chic inflorescences. Forms a columnar shape.

Fantastic

Ideal for temperate climates, characterized by increased winter hardiness, withstands frosts down to -30 ^{C. Forms flowers of rich pink color at the edges, with a delicate pink center inside, collected in inflorescences of 12 pieces.}

Schneekrone

Forms a compact bush of regular shape. Pale pink buds, having blossomed, turn into a snow-white flower with charming pink freckles inside. Bush height up to 1 meter. Winter hardiness is average.

Golden Torch

Forms 15 inflorescences on one shrub. Flowers are warm pale white. Bush less than 1 meter high, winter hardiness is weak, needs additional shelters for the winter season.

Bluretta

It has a slow growth rate compared to other rhododendrons. Winter hardiness is weak. Forms flowers in the form of bells, collected in inflorescences. The edges of the petals are corrugated, the color is rich pink.

Mist Maiden

Spherical slowly growing bush, designed to decorate the territories of summer cottages and personal plots. The flowers are large, pale pink, gradually acquiring a white color. It has high winter hardiness.

Caroline Albrook

Sort of English selection. Blooms profusely from May to late June. Forms large flowers of an original lilac color with golden brownish patterns inside. A bush of spherical shape, up to 120 centimeters high. Frost resistance is good, tolerates air temperatures in winter down to -25 ^C.

Emanuela

Evergreen shrub, growing strongly in width, can reach a height of 2 meters. Winter hardiness is average, needs additional shelters for the winter. Forms contrasting flowers of a delicate pink shade with a bright pink fringe on the edges of the petals.

Lumina

Spherical bush less than 1 meter high, with large lilac-pink flowers. Frost resistance is average, flowering time is 3 weeks. The leaves are dark green, elongated, matte.

Doc

A hybrid variety of Yakushimansky rhododendron forms a medium-sized spherical shrub. Flowers resemble lilies of the original purple color. Prefers partial shade, does not tolerate stagnant moisture and clay soils.

Mix

Mediterranean species, does not tolerate temperature extremes, prolonged cold snaps, frosts. The flowers are not large, bright pink color. Suitable for indoor growing.

Silver lady

Evergreen shrub with slightly arched leaves. Forms delicate white flowers with a pink tint. Winter hardiness is average. The bush begins to bloom profusely at a young age. The height of an adult shrub is less than 1 meter.

Isadora

A rare variety with large pink flowers resembling lilies. The leaves are dark green on top of the leaf plate, brown on the reverse side. Prefers partial shade, does not tolerate stagnant moisture.

Hummingbird

Spherical compact bush 80 centimeters high. Inflorescences of delicate pink color. Looks great in alpine slides and single landings. Frost resistance is average, requires shelter for the winter.

Growing

The success of its cultivation depends on the right variety of rhododendron. Zoned varieties with good winter hardiness are suitable for temperate latitudes.

Choice of location and soil

All types of azaleas do not tolerate waterlogged soils, but prefer to grow in partial shade. Important! Direct sunlight falling on the shrub for a long time can ruin the plant.

The site must be protected from drafts and be on a plain. The soil for rhododendron should be slightly acidic, rich in nutrients. Expanded clay and sand are piled at the bottom of the dug hole.

Planting

The optimal time for planting Yakushiman rhododendron seedlings is the end of April. Soil temperature should be more than +10 ^{С. Often azaleas are planted in separate bushes, group landings look spectacular, you can create hedges.}

Temperature

Yakushiman rhododendron is a heat-loving plant, most varieties require shelter for the winter. Planting bushes in open ground in early spring should not be in a hurry. The threat of frost should be over, the soil should warm up.

Irrigation

Spray and water the plants regularly and plentifully, about 2-3 times a week. Overdrying of the soil and the formation of a solid clod of earth in the root system should not be allowed. The optimal time for watering is morning and evening hours.

Feeding

Rhododendrons do not need abundant fertilizing with organic fertilizers, you can use special mineral complexes for azaleas. Top dressing is applied in three stages:

• before flowering;
• after flowering;
• early autumn.

It is important to choose the right dosage, experienced gardeners often dilute mineral complexes with water in a ratio of 2:1. Bushes awakened in early spring are sprinkled with wood ash.

Cutting

Cut shrubs in rare cases, mainly to correct the shape of the plant and remove dead stems and branches. After the end of flowering, flower-bearing stems are removed so that they do not spoil the appearance of the bush and do not take strength from the plant.

Transfer

Rhododendrons easily survive a transplant if it is done in early spring or autumn.It is important not to damage the delicate root system of the plant. The bush is dug up together with an earthen clod and transplanted to a new place. It is best to transplant in the evening or overcast weather.

Wintering

There are varieties with increased winter hardiness that can survive frosts at -30 ^{C. But, according to the experience of gardeners, it is recommended to cover shrubs for the winter. Spruce branches and special covering materials are used as plant protection. The foliage on the rhododendron is left, it serves as an additional shelter.}

How to propagate

It is not difficult to propagate rhododendron in your area, each grower chooses the most comfortable way for himself.

Division

Combined with the transplant process. The bush is dug out of the ground, trying not to damage the root system. One bush can be divided into 2-3 new young plants. In 2-3 years, the rhododendron will delight gardeners with its first beautiful flowers.

Seed

Planting material in the form of seeds can be purchased at a specialized store. Planting is carried out in seedling boxes in mid-February, maintaining the distance between the sprouts according to the recommendations for each variety. The box is closed with a film, after 7-10 days the first shoots appear.

In April-May, young bushes are planted in a garden "for children" or immediately choose a place on an alpine hill, next year the bushes can be planted in permanent places.

Cutting

Rhododendron has woody stems. To propagate the plant by cuttings, it is necessary to cut a small branch from the bush, 5-8 centimeters long, it must have at least 3 internodes. The stalk is planted in a pot with prepared soil and covered with a glass jar, placed on a warm windowsill. After 20-30 days, the first leaves will appear on the planted stem.

Propagation by layering

In early spring, a strong lower branch of a shrub is leaned against the ground, cut, sprinkled with earth. By mid-summer, the layering will take root, sprouts will appear on it. They can be carefully dug up and transplanted to a permanent place.

Flowering

The duration of flowering of the Yakushiman rhododendron is an average of 3 weeks. The shrub picks up buds in early May and blooms until mid-late June. During the period of budding, the shrub must be fed, and after flowering, the flowering stems should be removed.

All types of azaleas look great without flowers, the leafy appearance of the plant has high decorative characteristics.

Diseases and pests

Like any shrub, rhododendron is subject to attack by pests and diseases. As a rule, ailments occur due to improper care of the plant or the chosen place for growth.

Fungal diseases

Infectious fungal diseases occur due to outbreaks of epidemics on other plants, excessive watering or overfeeding with fertilizers. Of the fungal diseases for rhododendrons, the greatest danger is:

• grey rot;
• late blight;
• fusarium.

It is necessary to carry out preventive treatment of plants from these diseases. It is important to choose the right predecessors and neighbors, to follow the rules of crop rotation.

Spider mite

A parasitic insect that feeds on the juices of the affected plant. The shrub loses its decorative appearance, the leaves turn gray and become covered with a white cobweb, fall off. As a preventive treatment for spider mites, spraying the plant with Keltana emulsion or Bordeaux liquid is used.

Rhododendron bugs and flies

The plant is completely defoliated. The first signs of the disease - yellow dots on the leaves - are insect larvae. At this point, it is important to treat the shrubs with Diazinon. It is recommended to repeat it in a month.

Thrips and aphids

When attacked by these insects, the buds suffer, the flowers are tied many times less, they have ugly shapes, some of the unopened flowers fall off. You can see thrips and aphids when colonies of these parasites have already formed on the bush. The only way to save the plant is to treat it with insecticides.

Landscape use

Rhododendrons have been used in landscape design for decades. A shrub with beautiful foliage, fully covered with flowers in spring and summer, is an extraordinary sight. Designers use different planting methods using different combinations.

Single landings

Planting a rhododendron in a single version is used in landscape design in order to make a bright accent on the site or diversify the alpine hill. As a rule, they use spherical shapes or rhododendrons with a sprawling powerful crown. Creeping varieties are used to decorate alpine slides.

Japanese gardens

To create a Japanese garden, several types and varieties of azaleas are used with different budding and flowering periods. It is difficult to imagine a Japanese garden without a Yakushiman rhododendron shrub. For a greater decorative effect, Japanese bushes are planted against the background of other large-leaved trees, such as magnolias.

Garden compositions

Garden compositions are collected according to the principle of alpine slides. Combinations are selected so that after the end of flowering of one shrub, it begins to pick up buds and another bush or flower blooms. It is important to create the effect of continuous flowering with various changing accents.

Group landings

Used for decorating paths, recreation areas, stair park lifts. Group plantings look spectacular when decorating squares and in urban landscape design. Having planted several types of azaleas on your site, you can create and decorate a recreation area by placing plantings next to benches or swings.

Prevention of various problems

Rhododendrons are quite delicate plants, they do not need abundant feeding, but they are demanding on the irrigation system, they need comprehensive preparation for the winter period. At every stage of a plant's growth, a gardener can face challenges.

Flower buds

Shrub may drop buds and not bloom. As a rule, this problem occurs due to lack of moisture and irregular watering. If the bush is planted in a place where the winds are constantly blowing, then this moment will also be reflected in the number of flowers in the plant.

Thrips and aphids are possible causes of bud drop. Insecticide treatment needs to be done.

Weak flowering

With good he alth and proper care in early spring, rhododendron bushes should be strewn with fragrant bright flowers. If this does not happen, then the reason may be a lack of nutrients. Before flowering, it is recommended to feed the azalea with a special mineral complex.

Slow growth

Rhododendrons are slow growing shrubs. But sometimes it seems that the bush does not grow at all, the leaves wither, the flowers fall off. This negative phenomenon may indicate stagnation of moisture at the roots and waterlogging of the plant. When planting azaleas at the bottom of the planting pit, it is recommended to make drainage from expanded clay mixed with sand. It is unacceptable to grow rhododendrons in wetlands.

Reviews

Solovyeva Lyudmila Arkhipovna, 48 years old, Saransk: “Several years ago I refused to grow vegetables on an industrial scale on my plot. Saving space, I decided to create a recreation area next to the house and the well. My husband installed several benches and a swing. Fantastica planted rhododendrons next to each bench and next to the well, planted white roses and several hostas next to it. It turned out a very interesting combination, when the azaleas fade, roses begin to shine, which look gorgeous against the background of dark green shrubs. Now the whole family rests there, during flowering the rhododendrons smell great, I recommend it. ”

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