Rhododendron Roseum Elegance: description, winter hardiness, planting, photo

Rhododendron – a representative of the Heather family, is divided into species, including several varieties and hybrids, differing in the color of the inflorescences and the height of the shrub. Rhododendron Roseum elegans was bred in England and included in the Katevbinsky group, the originator of the variety is Anthony Waterer. Culture was created for use in landscape design.

Description of the hybrid rhododendron Roseum elegans

Ornamental evergreen shrub Rhododendron Roseum elegans grows in Japan, Northern Hemisphere. In Ukraine it is known as Chervona Ruta. There is a rhododendron in the tundra, mountainous areas, grows in groups near wetlands. Rhododendron Roseum elegans (pictured) is a sprawling shrub that grows up to 3 m in height, crown volume is 3,5 m. It has a decorative appearance throughout the year.

During the formation of a young crown, the color of the leaves of rhododendron is dark red, as it grows, it changes to green. Vegetation in rhododendron is slow, the annual growth is up to 15 cm. The main increase is observed in the first 5 years, then the growth decreases, reaching the end point at 7 years. At this age, the plant is considered an adult. Outwardly similar to the rhododendron Roseum Pontic, but these are different types of culture, differing in the shape of the shrub and the color of the inflorescences.

External characteristics of the rhododendron Roseum elegans:

1. The bush is branched, strongly sprawling, the shape is rounded, closed from below. Branches of medium thickness, light green, smooth. Young shoots are a tone lighter than skeletal branches.
2. The root system of the large-sized plant is fibrous, close to the soil surface, the root circle is wide.
3. Leathery leaves are opposite, in the form of an elongated narrow oval, the surface is glossy. Young leaves are dark red, after full formation they acquire a rich green color. The length of the plate is 9-10 cm, the width is 7 cm.
4. The flowers have the appearance of a wide funnel, bright pink with dark patches at the base, diameter – 8 cm, slightly wavy edges, pink-purple stamens. Collected in dense rounded inflorescences of 20 pieces.
5. The fruit is a box with small black seeds.

The flowering time of Roseum elegans is in June, the duration is about 20 days. Flowering is intense, the shrub is completely covered with flowers. Use rhododendron in design as a single plant and as a hedge. Create a composition with coniferous ornamental trees and shrubs.

Rhododendron Roseum elegans does not tolerate open areas well, the culture is not drought-resistant, therefore burns on inflorescences and leaves are possible with excess ultraviolet radiation. If the plant is planted on a site without shading, constant watering and sprinkling is necessary.

Winter hardiness of Rhododendron Roseum Elegance

Roseum elegans variety is the most frost-resistant representatives of the culture. Winters at -32 without additional shelter ⁰C. Resists temperature changes well. During spring thaws, sap flow begins and a sharp drop in temperature, for example, to -8 ⁰C causes freezing of juice, this process is not terrible for rhododendron. After defrosting, the increased juice does not break the bark, so the wood structure is not destroyed. The plant is not damaged, the vegetation continues as usual.

According to the description of rhododendron, Roseum elegans belongs to the 3,4 frost resistance zone. The crop is grown in Eastern Siberia and the Urals (zone No. 3). The plant feels comfortable in Central Our Country, the Moscow region, St. Petersburg (zone No. 4). Suitable for registration of sites in Central Our Country.

Growing conditions for rhododendron Roseum Elegans

Despite the fact that the Roseum elegans rhododendron is a culture with low drought resistance, the shrub does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. Loose, light, fertile soils with satisfactory drainage are chosen for planting.

In their natural environment, Heathers grow in wetlands, but hybrids do not respond well to the proximity of groundwater. The acidic composition of the soil is suitable for rhododendron. The plant feels comfortable under the crown of coniferous trees. An open sunny area is not suitable for a plant, so the south side is not considered for planting.

The plant is frost-resistant, but does not tolerate the effects of the north wind. According to gardeners, the best option for the Roseum elegans hybrid rhododendron is the north side behind the wall of the building. Such a landing will exclude drafts and direct sunlight. To maintain the necessary moisture, the root circle is mulched every spring. To preserve the decorativeness of the bush, after flowering, the inflorescences are removed.

Planting and caring for rhododendron Roseum elegans

Hybrid Roseum elegans tolerates transplanting well, takes root quickly. Due to frost resistance, rhododendron varieties are grown in regions with cold winters, so planting is carried out only in spring. Agrotechnics in culture is standard in watering, timely feeding and preparing the plant for winter.

Selection and preparation of the landing site

The shrub is planted in partial shade on the north side, the rhododendron feels comfortable near water bodies, but on the condition that the soil is not waterlogged. A week before planting prepare the site:

1. Dig up, remove the roots of weeds.
2. Wide but shallow planting holes are prepared, if planting is done in a line, the interval between the holes is 2 m.
3. Drainage is placed at the bottom, sour peat mixed with oak leaves on top.

Seedling preparation

Before placing in a permanent place, the remaining soil is completely removed from the root system of the rhododendron planting material. The seedling is placed in a 5% solution of manganese, then in a growth stimulant preparation. Before planting, check the condition of the root, if necessary, remove damaged areas. If the planting material is grown independently, it is planted at the age of one year, two-year-old seedlings are purchased in the nursery.

Rules for planting rhododendron Roseum elegans

A concentrated solution of clay is preliminarily prepared, the root is dipped into it immediately before planting. Action algorithm:

1. A stake is driven into the center of the pit to fix the seedling.
2. Gently distribute the roots along the bottom of the recess.
3. From above they fall asleep with a mixture of sand and peat, tamp the soil.
4. Fix the seedling to the support, water it.

After planting, the root circle is mulched with needles or last year’s leaves. Compost is not recommended.

Watering and top dressing

The first dressing is given to the shrub in the spring before flowering. Use special fertilizers for rhododendrons. After flowering, phosphate fertilizers are applied. Organics are used to a minimum. Watering is oriented to seasonal precipitation, two waterings per week are enough for the plant. In dry weather, sprinkling is carried out at night. If the air humidity is low, the tops of the leaves dry, sprinkling is carried out every day.

Trimming

Cardinal pruning of the Roseum elegans rhododendron is carried out in early August. It is used to form the crown and is a protection against damage to young branches by a mass of snow. Annual shoots are cut to 1/3 of the main length. Remove faded inflorescences. In early spring, dry fragments are removed, and sanitary cleaning of the shrub is carried out.

Preparation for winter

Hybrid Roseum elegans is a hardy plant. Before wintering, an adult shrub is irrigated with moisture and the root circle is mulched with a layer of mulch (15 cm). For young seedlings, shelter for the winter is relevant:

1. The branches are carefully attached to the main trunk, fixed.
2. Top wrapped with any material that does not allow moisture to pass through.
3. Mulch.
4. Cover with spruce branches.

If the seedling is not high, after mulching, arcs are installed, a film is stretched, covered with leaves or coniferous branches from above, in winter the structure is covered with snow.

Reproduction

Hybrid rhododendron Roseum Elegans (Roseum Elegans) reproduces vegetatively and generatively. Seed propagation is rarely used. The vegetation process before the first flowering is too long. The advantage of this method is a large amount of planting material. To obtain seedlings, the seeds are sown in a container with a nutrient substrate, covered with a film on top. After germination, the young shoots are dived into separate containers and left in a shaded place.

Rhododendron grown from seeds will not bloom until the age of six. The most effective and fastest method is vegetative. Cuttings are carried out in June according to the following scheme:

1. The material is cut from the tops of two-year-old shoots 10 cm long.
2. The cut is made oblique, the lower leaves are removed, the cuttings are placed in a growth stimulator for 2 hours.
3. Planted in a mini-greenhouse, maintain a constant humidity of air and soil.
4. By autumn, the rhododendron should take root, it is transplanted into a container and brought into a room with a temperature not higher than +5 for the winter. ⁰C.

In the spring they are placed in a permanent place. Rhododendron Roseum elegans tolerates transplanting well, quickly takes root in a new site. You can propagate the culture with the help of layering. To obtain planting material, the lower branch is bent, fixed to the surface of the soil, covered with earth. Work is carried out in the spring before sap flow. Throughout the season, layering is watered. The next spring, the material is ready for division and transplantation.

Diseases and pests

Roseum elegans rarely gets sick and is damaged by pests. The appearance of a fungal infection can provoke the accumulation of moisture in the soil. With high humidity and a sharp drop in temperature, chlorosis or leaf spot develops, in which case treatment with Bordeaux liquid is necessary. With a deficiency of nutrients, twisting of the leaves is observed, the plant must be fed.

Of the garden pests on the shrub, the rhododendron bug parasitizes, it is eliminated by Diazonin. The mealybug feeds on the juice of the leaves, covering them with a dense white coating. In the fight against pests, Karbofos is used. Spider mites are less common, the bush is treated with Agrovertin.

Conclusion

Rhododendron Roseum elegans belongs to the Katevbinsky variety. It is a tall, spreading shrub with an ornamental appearance. During the flowering period, the crown is completely covered with spherical bright pink inflorescences. The culture is frost-resistant, evergreen, widely used for landscape design in regions with a temperate climate.

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