Rhododendron Blewbury

Rhododendron Blewbury is an exceptional variety of dwarf rhododendron. Its fantastic white spring flowering covers a lovely elliptical foliage that is slightly convex and pointed with curled edges. The first ornaments in late winter are its bright pink buds. Then, for a long month, from mid-April to mid-May, clusters of 18 to 20 bell-shaped flowers, white with a wine-coloured mark, giving a washed-out pink appearance, almost completely invade the elegant bush. This variety has received an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in England. With remarkable elegance and radiance, this little "rhodo" stands out as much as a larger plant in gardens of all sizes.

Rhododendrons are plants of the Ericaceae family, which includes about a hundred genera, many of which are common in our gardens. Heathers, Kalmia, Andromeda, Leucothoe, Oxydendrum, or Gaultheria are valuable in ornamental beds, while Strawberry Trees and especially Blueberries delight us with their fruits. For the most part, these are plants that prefer soils devoid of limestone, with an acidic tendency and humid climates.

Rhododendron Blewbury comes from a rare cross between Rhododendron roxieanum var roxieanum and maculiferum ssp anwheiense. It forms a dense bush with a rounded habit, reaching 80 cm in height and 90 cm in width at maturity. Its evergreen leaves are elliptical in shape, slender, and leathery with curled edges. During April and May, longer flowering than most rhododendrons invades this dwarf shrub, which is literally covered with bright pink floral buds that then open into white flowers about 3.5 cm in size, shaded with light pink, thanks to their wine-coloured markings. The flowers are grouped in terminal clusters composed of 18 to 20 flowers.

Hardy down to -22°C, Rhododendron Blewbury prefers a semi-shade or dappled shade exposure. With slow growth, this acid-loving ericaceous shrub thrives in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soils. It is ideal as a border plant, in a pot, or even as a standalone specimen in a small garden. In a bed, this miniature Rhododendron occupies the foreground, in front of taller acid-loving plants, such as beautiful Kalmias, or Mountain Laurels, with their dark green foliage and pretty small flowers in May-June. It also thrives in the light shade of an Oxydendrum arboreum, whose long clusters of white bells in summer and vibrant autumn foliage provide a spectacle for much of the year. To ensure flowers all year round, complete this picture with an Autumn Camellia like the magnificent Camellia sasanqua Yuletide, whose bright red flowers with yellow stamens enchant your days from November to January.