Rhododendron Roseum Elegans (Roseum Elegans)
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A variety of hybrid rhododendron Katevbinsky called Roseum Elegance with its gorgeous deep pink flowers is an exquisite decoration of the garden. An evergreen shrub is beautiful at any time of the year, but requires specific planting conditions.
Detailed description of Roseum Elegans
This hybrid was obtained by the British breeder E. Waterer (Antony Waterer) in 1851. The variety was specially created for use in landscape design. The emphasis was on obtaining a delicate shade of flowers and breeding a plant that is resistant to disease.
Blooming Rhododendron Roseum Elegance
The hemispherical spreading crown of this rather tall shrub changes very much during life. Young growth is visible from afar due to its dark red color. It gradually turns green.
Roseum Elegans Hybrid rhododendron was bred specifically to resist ailments
Young branches are light green and smooth, and last year's branches are only a tone darker. Leaves are opposite, oval, glossy, leathery. In length they grow up to 10 cm, and in width up to 7 cm. At first they grow dark red, then turn green.
Flowers, collected in racemose inflorescences of 20 pieces, have the shape of a wide funnel. The color is bright pink with noticeable darker blotches at the base of the corolla. The edges of the petals are slightly wavy, and the stamens are pink-purple.
Fully opened rhododendron flowers
Rhododendron elegans (cultivar Roseum Elegans) belongs to the Katevbin group of rhododendrons (Rhododendron Catawbiense) of the Heather family (Ericaceae).
An evergreen shrub grows on average up to 2-4 m in height. The crown is about 1.5-2 times the height. The growth is rather slow, a 10-year-old bush does not exceed 1.5 m. The average annual growth is about 12-15 cm. The fastest growing rhododendron is up to 5 years, and then it slows down. 7 year old bush - 100% formed.
What is the difference from other types
The most important difference of the Roseum Elegance variety is its extremely high winter hardiness. Without shelter, the shrub survives at temperatures down to -32 ° C. The change of temperature is painless. In spring, when thaws can easily be replaced by recurrent frosts down to -8 ° C, shoots do not suffer from freezing of juices that have already moved to the buds. The elastic wood structure compensates for all deformations without collapsing.
On average, the price of seedlings starts from 300 rubles. * On sale may appear under the name English Roseum with the mark "cont.", Which means the presence of a closed root system.
Rhododendrons in landscape design
When choosing a place for planting a rhododendron bush in the garden, it is important to take into account all its needs. The first is watering. A very moisture-loving plant does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. A site with loose and fertile soil on a small elevation is required.
The primer is required with an acidic reaction. This is the second.As a mulch, needles are best suited for it, therefore the best neighbors are conifers (thuja, pine, spruce, etc.). The scorching sun is not the best place for the Roseum Elegance variety. The site should not be southern, and during the day the bush should be slightly shaded. This is the third.
The Roseum Elegance bush will adorn any garden if you choose the right place for it
North winds are harmful to frost-resistant shrubs. Based on this, the rodendron is usually planted near the wall of the building, and on the opposite side it should be protected from the scorching sun and wind by a tall specimen.
Planting and leaving
Preparation for landing starts early. In a week, they dig up the landing site, thoroughly clearing the ground of weeds and their roots. A hole is dug wide, but shallow. A gap of at least 2 m is left between the bushes. A thin layer of drainage from sand or expanded clay is poured into the bottom of each hole, sour peat mixed with oak litter is added.
Before planting, seedlings require processing. They are cleaned from the soil of the shipping container, and then for 2-3 hours the roots are soaked in a 5% manganese solution. Usually, 2-year-old seedlings are on sale, but many grow them on their own from seeds, then one-year-old bushes are planted in open ground.
Planting a rhododendron
Step-by-step planting process:
- The roots of the rhododendron are dipped in a liquid mud made of water and clay.
- A support is driven into the center of the hole for tying the seedling.
- The roots are spread along the bottom of the pit.
- The hole is covered with a mixture of sour peat and sand.
- The trunk of the rhododendron is tied to the support.
- Water (10-20 liters for each bush).
- The root circles are mulched with needles or litter from an oak tree.
For the first time, a rhododendron will need feeding at the stage of forcing the buds. At this time, the soil is watered with the addition of phosphorus fertilizer. Watered, focusing on the amount of rain, but at least 2 times a week. In the heat, it is useful to sprinkle in the morning.
Pruning for the Roseum Elegance variety is needed in August. It forms a crown, and also prevents snow from damaging too long branches in winter. Annual branches are shortened by a third. All dry flowers are cut off. In the spring, after the swelling of the kidneys, sanitary pruning is carried out.
Preparing for winter
With high frost resistance, the bushes of the hybrid rhododendron Roseum Elegans still need to be prepared for wintering. To do this, multi-charge irrigation is performed, and the layer of mulch in the near-stem circles is increased to 15 cm. Saplings up to 3 years old are recommended to be covered with an agricultural canvas. The branches should be fixed by tying the cover over the top with twine. In winter, a snowdrift is thrown over the top.
Shelter of rhododendron for the winter
Diseases and pests
Due to the accumulation of moisture in the soil, traces of fungal diseases can appear on the rhododendron. When the weather is cool and damp, leaf spot and chlorosis are common. For prophylaxis in the spring, all the bushes are treated with an interval of 10 days 3-4 times with a solution of Bordeaux liquid.
A typical pest of rhododendrons is a special bug, against which the planting is treated with a solution of diazoninad. A dense white bloom on the leaves indicates a mealybug infestation, which malophos helps against. They save from spider mites by spraying with agrovertin.
Prevention of various problems
Rhododendron reacts worst of all to violations of agricultural technology: thickened planting, lack of watering and preventive treatments for pests and diseases. Rolling leaves are a signal that the shrub needs feeding. With minimal effort, the elegant pink rhododendron will increase in size every year, but it can quickly die due to leaf fungi or in drought without water.
Until now, to meet such a rarity as a rhododendron in an ordinary garden is a real success.Meanwhile, the beautiful flowers of Roseum Elegance are available even to residents of the Moscow Region and the Leningrad Region.
* Prices are for August 2019
