Unknown Rhododendron

8 Apr '05 10:24 pm

Moosey
At the risk of looking like I'm monopolising this section, I looked up the Gardening Australia FLORA book to find a photo of Rhododendron 'Percy Wiseman'. The photo in the book could have been taken in your garden, it is so similar to your photo.

I couldn't find one of R. 'Virginia Waters' so I looked it up on the Internet. Descriptions vary a bit, and photos often differ from the description, but generally it seems to be a yellow flower with a crimson blotch.

Keep enjoying your Rhodos.

19 Apr '05 9:23 am

I'm pretty sure that I do have the Percy Wiseman rhododendron sorted. My naming problems all come from my method of purchasing new plants (bargain bins, sale tables, or offering retirement homes in the country to unwanted plants in friends' gardens).

Thanks so much for believing in me! Tell you what - it is the most beautiful rhododendron! Actually I should buy a rhododendron reference book - like the big rose book I am always peeping into, and my book of annuals and perennials.

Alice, do you know much about the Whitney's Apricot - Whitney's Orange - Whitney's rhododendrons? I'm not sure if they are global names. They seem to be quite famous here in new Zealand and I'm not sure if I've got one! I thought I did, but the flowers seem rather pale.

Cheers

21 Apr '05 11:13 pm

Moosey
I have to confess that my entire knowledge of Rhododendrons would fit on a pinhead. I do know that they are beautiful when in flower but rather dull when not; can grow to an enormous size and are virtually noxious weeds in Scotland where they are out of control. I have one in my garden, which flowered once so I know that it is a lovely dark red. I think you need a rather large space to grow them properly and, although at 1440 sq.metres our block is considered large by today's urban standards (nearly 2 - 3 times the size of modern blocks here), I have so many other plants that I want to grow that I just can't manage them all.

So, having turned a short answer into a long one, I haven't been able to find anything about the Whitney Rhododendrons in my books. Sorry.

Unknown Rhododendron

Unknown Rhododendron

Whitney's Rhododendrons