Rhododendron Albert Schweitzer

The 'Albert Schweitzer' hybrid Rhododendron, at first glance, is a beautiful, vigorous and very robust plant. This excellent variety,  which won an RHS award in England in 2002 has dense foliage and an upright bushy habit. The shrub produces a mass of small pale pink flowers with purple pink spot in the throat, in April-May. Decorative throughout the year, this evergreen shrub should be grown in ericaceous soil, in partial shade or exposed to morning sun if the soil remains moist. A reliable choice!

Rhododendrons are plants of the Ericaceae family, just like heathers, the vast majority preferring a chalk-free, acid soil, and a damp climate. The result of a cross made by Adriaan van Nes in the Netherlands in 1960, Rhododendron 'Albert Schweitzer' forms a dense bush, initially upright, becoming more spreading over the years. At maturity, it will reach about 3m (10ft) in height and 2.50m (8 ft) in spread. It is fairly fast growing. Its evergreen, medium matte green leaves with a downy underside, are elliptical in shape, covering the plant well. In April-May, depending on the climate, an abundance of flowers overwhelms the shrub: grouped in voluminous corymbs, its beautiful pale pink flowers open to reveal dark pink heavily streaked throats. Nectar-rich, they are much frequented by pollinating insects.

The Rhododendron 'Albert Schweitzer' is a floriferous and quite hardy plant, down to -15°C (5°F) or even -20°C (-4°F). Even though they prefer partial shade, hybrid Rhododendrons can tolerate a moderate morning sun provided their base remains cool. 'Albert Schweitzer', with its abundance of bright flowers, will easily dress up a shady corner of the garden, alongside ferns, blue or variegated hostas, Pieris, heathers, Kalmias, Azaleas and Japanese Maples, or other rhododendrons from the same group, to create superb patchworks of textures and colours in spring. Rhododendrons can also be used to create beautiful hedges, on their own or possibly combined with camellias or mimosa (in mild climates). Growing in containers requires regular watering with alkaline-free water and specific fertilizer for ericaceous plants.