Rhododendron Roseum Elegans is the most common species for areas with cold winters. This hybrid is successful due to its high resistance to temperatures from −27 ° C to 30 ° C. Of course, the decorativeness of the bush adds popularity to this variety, as the bush is tall and sprawling. Bunches of flowers are large and dense, and the buds themselves are large, wide with wavy edges.
Description
A magnificent shrub appeared thanks to the English breeder E. Vaterrera in the distant 50s. 19 century Hybrid Rhododendron Elegans was obtained on the basis of the Katevbin variety. His closest fellow, obtained from the same variety, is the English Roseum, soft pink bells of this species are also very resistant to weather.
Exotic pink garden handsome
Description of the variety Roseum Elegans:
- Rhododendron Roseum Elegans is an evergreen, tall and sprawling shrub. It grows up to 3 m in height. The crown in diameter up to 4 m has a widely round shape, closed from the bottom;
- the bark is dark green in color, over time the shoots are covered with a dense tree-like layer;
- dense leathery leaves with a length of 7-8 cm are elliptical. Young only blossoming leaves are brown-red in color, with time they change color to dark green;
- flowers in diameter 7 cm five-petalled curly around the edges. The color of the inflorescences is pink juicy, on the upper petal a spot of orange and red dots. Pink-purple stamens are beautifully twisted at the ends, complementing the composition with white notes of their tips;
- flowering begins in June and lasts three weeks.
Round bunches of 15-20 flowers tightly assembled, look spectacular on the dark green of the bush
A unique difference from other varieties of this species is the ability of the leaves to change their color. Young leaves are red-brown, with time become dark green. Roseum is also distinguished by its winter hardiness and longevity; in comfortable conditions, the bush lives up to 50 years.
In landscape design
In the garden, almost all types of rhododendrons are combined with conifers. A huge plus of this neighborhood is the protection of the bushes from the wind, which the variety does not like. Against the background of a hedge of thuja or decorative undersized firs, Roseum Elegans looks great in a solo performance.
In combination with other varieties, rhododendron elegans does not lose its appeal
It blends wonderfully with contrasting flowers, as well as with pink shrubs in different shades. It will look great with the following varieties:
- in pink colors of the University, Science Fiction, Yakushimansky, Adams and the most tender Ledebura;
- contrasting combinations will be with yellow, golden, Rasputin or Helinki.
Love for partial shade allows you to create garden compositions under the trees, planting nearby ground cover crops that create green or flowering carpets. Rhododendrons look great along paths and hedges. They can fill the entire corner zone of the garden with their spreading branches.
Landing and care
The Roseum Elegans hybrid rhododendron is very demanding on soil composition, lighting and irrigation.
Landing
Planting begins with the preparation of the soil mixture for flowering exotics. The soil must be loose, light, not retain moisture and not settle. At the same time, it should contain a maximum of nutrients (but not mineral composition). The soil, which will promote active growth and flowering, should be slightly acidic.
Proper fit is the key to success
Note! This indicator must be controlled during irrigation. With a lack of acidity, it is permissible to add citric, acetic or oxalic acid to the water (at the rate of 3-4 g per 10 l).
The composition of the soil for Roseum Elegans in equal parts:
- sheet earth;
- sour horse peat;
- fallen needles;
- pine or spruce bark (crushed and partially decomposed);
- sand.
Important! Fresh sawdust, bark or wood residues are not allowed in the soil for planting rhododendron.
After soil preparation:
- Dig a hole up to 70 cm deep.
- At the bottom, lay out a thick drainage layer of broken brick or large expanded clay.
- Fill the drainage layer with soil mixture and pour with water or fertilizer.
- Make a small slide out of the ground and place a seedling on it.
- The roots must be straightened in the direction of growth.
- Sprinkle with the remaining soil carefully, without damaging the roots. Take the soil.
- The root neck should look 2-3 cm from the ground.
- Around the seedling is made a recess for watering, and inside the soil must be mulched with pine bark, needles or peat.
The best time for planting young plants is May-June
Important! Seedlings with a lump of land tolerate planting well in other months until late autumn.
Care
For growth and flowering, the following conditions must be taken into account:
- temperature range for comfortable growth from −15 ° С to 20 ° С. Frost resistance of shrubs up to 27 ° C, and can endure summer heat up to 30 ° C;
- spraying shrubs is best done in the evening after a hot day. For these purposes, a normal watering hose will do;
- water in the summer is a constant companion of a flowering shrub. Watering is plentiful. On average, for an adult specimen, 3-5 buckets of water will be the norm of one watering. During the autumn cooling period, watering is minimized so as not to overcool the surface roots of the bush;
To form a crown, as well as stimulate flowering, a shrub needs pruning three times a year.
- Organic and mineral fertilizers are needed as top dressing, which should be applied alternately every two weeks during flowering and active growth. Any alkaline substances are contraindicated for soil (soapy water, alkali, ash and the like);
- spring pruning serves as a sanitary, it is necessary to remove all damaged branches after wintering, and also to form the crown of the future bush. In the summer after flowering, it is necessary to cut off all wilted inflorescences. In autumn, the bush is prepared for wintering, removing shoots that are too long, as well as branches that thicken the bush.
Winter preparations
It is necessary to protect the ends of the branches from frost. To do this, use lutrasil or spandum. Covering materials will be protection from the first bright rays of the spring sun. To protect the roots from freezing rain, it is better to mulch the soil.
Diseases and Pests
Bushes get sick very rarely, as breeders cherish and groom their pets. Rhododendron gains health problems after an incorrect approach in the conditions of detention. Most often, this is the development of fungal diseases associated with excessive watering or over-acidity of the soil.
Of the pests on the bush, you can find a spider mite, a bug and a mealy worm. Parasites are removed by an insecticide. But slugs and snails, so loving wet places, will have to be cleaned by hand.
Prevention of various problems
In order not to spoil the healthy appearance of the bush, it is important to remember:
- direct sunlight for the whole day will leave burns on the leaves and provoke fungal diseases of the leaf plates;
- if the care is fully consistent, and the bush does not want to bloom, he does not like the place in which he grows;
- fungicides are used in the early spring to prevent various diseases of the bush.
Pruning and transplanting in early April will be a great impetus to active growth and flowering.
Elegant pink rhododendron is a great solution for decorating a garden or a plot in front of the house. By the beauty of flowering, these exotics have no equal, their magnificent bushes are able to overshadow any flowering plant against their background. He truly deserves his title - the king of the garden.
