Scarlet Red rhododedron flowers three in a group Cynthia
The only areas where rhododendrons don't occur in the wild are Africa and South America. They've been grown in Britain since the 18th century, but it wasn't until the 1900s that they became widely known. The start of the 20th century saw a flood of new species introduced by plant hunters, while over the past few decades most of the breeding has been done in north America and Germany. The latter has produced plants better suited to the UK climate and smaller gardens, as they grow about (4ft) high after ten to 15 years, and also flower from a young age. Two of the best include R. 'Fantastica' and 'Hachmann's Polaris'. There are more than 900 species and 8,000 varieties of rhododendron, the latter being preferred by gardeners. Hybrids bred from the dwarf R. yakushimanum are known as yaks. There are also many dwarf rhododendrons that are perfect for smaller gardens. R. 'Cynthia': tall, powerful evergreen that reaches 6m (20ft) and carries a terrific late spring display of light to bright red flowers. Has been given the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Size: 3467px × 5200px
Photo credit: © Flake / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: alien, flower, invasive, species
