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Rhododendron camtschaticum

Kamchatka rhododendron

R. camtschaticum has a dwarf, procumbent habit and hairy-margined, mid-green leaves on hairy shoots; small, saucer-shaped reddish-purple or pink flowers borne singly or in pairs, late spring and early summer

Synonyms
Rhododendron aureum subsp. camtschaticum
Therorhodion camtschaticum

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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Pink Purple Red Green
Summer Green
Autumn Green
Winter
Position
  • Partial shade
Aspect

North–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Ericaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Potentially harmful
Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus

Rhododendron can be evergreen or deciduous shrubs or trees, with simple leaves, sometimes with a dense colourful indumentum of hairs on the lower side, and funnel-shaped, bell-shaped or tubular flowers that may be solitary or in short racemes

Name status

Correct

Plant range
N Japan, E Russia, USA (Aleutian Islands, Alaska)

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained, leafy humus-rich, acid soil in part shade with shelter; see rhododendron cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by seed as soon as ripe - garden collected seed may not come true but hand pollinated plants generally produce true to type; propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Banks and slopes
  • Ground cover
Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to vine weevil, rhododendron and azalea whitefly, rhododendron leafhopper, pieris lacebug, scale insects, caterpillars and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to various Rhododendron diseases including powdery mildews, rhododendron petal blight, rhododendron bud blast, silver leaf and honey fungus

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