I've always been intrigued by flowers that start out with a deep color in the buds and open to a different color, particularly pure white.
Rhododendron 'Loderi King George' is an example of this. The buds begin in almost a solid deep pink, opening to white. I would not call them "pure white", as there are traces of pink left, but the pink is on the underside of the blooms. When backlit by sunlight, the pink softly glows through the white. Lovely!
I remember looking at photos of massive rhododendrons in my early gardening days, and it was one of the features that lured me to the Pacific Northwest. They were difficult to grow in Alabama, not liking the hot, humid conditions.
After finally moving to Washington state, I was a bit mystified to learn that many gardeners here tend to dismiss them as "common". I suppose they are over-used and often not grown under the best circumstances, but seeing them used properly and grown in the right conditions, they are magnificent.
I find myself gravitating to the larger rhododendrons, and they are too large for our small garden. However, that hasn't always stopped me. 'Loderi King George' was one that I liked early on, but it was many years before I finally located one, and then it showed up at the nursery where I worked. This one can grow up to 15 feet tall. Right now, it is a mere 5 feet.
Another great feature about 'King George' is that it is fragrant! The scent is a light, fresh, and sweet. It has been blooming now for several weeks. A definite highlight of the early spring garden.
The name "Loderi" is for Sir Edmund Giles Loder (1849-1920), who was a plant collector and breeder.
Comments