Rhododendron keleticum

Rhododendron keleticum is a particularly dwarf and slow-growing species that forms small spreading cushions. The miniature, beautiful glossy dark green leaves are ornamental all year round. In spring, it serves as a backdrop for the magnificent flowering of lilac mauve that completely covers the bush. It is extremely hardy and grows in acidic, humus-bearing, moist soil that retains moisture in summer, in sunny to semi-shady exposure. A great subject for container gardening.

Rhododendrons are members of the Ericaceae family, which includes many ornamental genera (Kalmia, Leucothoe, Erica, Calluna, Oxydendrum, Gaultheria, Pieris...) as well as some small fruits (Vaccinium: blueberry, Arbutus: strawberry tree, Arctostaphyllos uva-ursi: bearberry). The Rhododendron genus is very rich in species (about a thousand), including Azaleas (horticultural denomination, botanically they are Rhododendrons).
Native to Tibet, Yunnan in China, and Myanmar (Burma), Rhododendron keleticum is a mountain species that grows at altitudes of 3,000 to 3,900 m. The bush can withstand temperatures as low as -23°C. Its growth is extremely slow: 2 to 3 cm per year! It will take approximately 10 to 20 years to form a cushion 20 cm tall and 30 cm wide, and then continue to grow a little to reach a mature width of 50 cm. Its beautiful evergreen foliage is proportionate, so the leaves are particularly small. Elliptical to lanceolate in shape, with an acuminate tip, they measure only 0.6 to 2 cm long and 0.3 to 1 cm wide. Their dark green colour and shiny surface give them a pronounced ornamental character.
Flowering occurs in May-June, in the form of beautiful funnel-shaped flowers. Carried by a hairy peduncle, solitary or in groups of 4 to 5, the flowers have a stunning mauve lilac to purple-violet colour. They are very numerous and cover the entire vegetation, creating a magnificent spectacle for approximately 3 weeks.
This particularly compact Rhododendron keleticum can easily be grown in a container on a terrace or balcony due to its slow growth and small size. Its dazzling flowering and reduced dimensions will create a beautiful scene even in a small urban garden. Plant a Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum Bi Hoo, with finely cut foliage, salmon-coloured when it emerges, light green in summer, and orange-yellow in autumn, as a backdrop. You can also associate it with a dwarf conifer such as Cryptomeria japonica Vilmorin Gold, with golden young shoots that turn cream in summer. To enjoy a superb early flowering, plant Camellia Bob's Tinsie, a small shrub with glossy dark green foliage and scarlet red anemone-like flowers from February to April.