For Auiiiist, I'IZJ 



197 



Late-Flowering Azaleas 



BECAUSE they are unaljlc frimi a liotanical staiKlpoiiit 

 to sejiarate Azaleas and Rhododendrons, botanists 

 inchule them all in the genus Rhododendron. The 

 original broad distinction was the evergreen Rhododen- 

 dron with ten stamens. When species were introduced 

 with these characters reversed or which did not fall into 

 either group, there was nothing to do but sink one of the 

 names in the herbarium. The popular name of Azalea 

 will always, we must hope, lie retained to indicate the most 



(Courtesy vf The Ganlcn) 



Tin- ]l'lulc-Floiwrcd "Swantp Honeysuckle," Rlioiloilcii- 

 dron Viscosum 



beautiful famih- of hardy deciduous flowering shruljs cul- 

 tivated in our gardens. 



Most of the varieties are at their Ix-st from late April 

 to early in June, with a wonderful wealth of lilossoms dur- 

 ing May. These notes are intended to draw attention to 

 the possibilities of a race equally rich in colors, flowering 

 from mid-June and throughout July. We already have 

 several species flowering at this season, beautiful in them- 

 selves and with a delicious fragrance, but they lack the 

 rich and varied shades of color so charming in the Spring 



Tin 



(Courtesy of The Garden) 

 Flamc-Colorcd Rhododendron Calendnlaceum 



vance of the species, which is only natural when an early- 

 flowering pollen-parent is used. To obtain the object in 

 view, breeding must be systematically focussed on the 

 raising of seedlings, and the crossing of the latest to 

 flower, for several generations. 



The one thing we may be "up against'' in the raising of 

 a race of late-flowering .\zaleas is that they will be at their 

 best during the hottest weeks of the year. We know, 

 however, that the wild Azaleas grow in shady damp situa- 

 tions, and we should do well to follow Nature more in our 

 planting. The Cornish growers may have an ideal climate 

 for Rhododendrons, which is half the battle, but they are 

 also fully alive to the value of mulching. Here again we 

 should follow Natmx' by mulching annually with leaves, 

 using sticks to hold them in position. Rhododendrons and 

 Azaleas are surface-rooting, with fine roots which drought 

 will soon kill. Leaves keep the surface cool and moist in 

 Summer and warm in Winter. 



A peaty soil is by no means essential, for Azaleas 

 thrive in a moist, loamy soil that is free from lime. Hard 

 or close ground can soon be brought into condition by 

 trenching and adding plenty of leaf-mould. While named 

 sorts must be increased by layering, cuttings or grafting, 

 the species can be freely raised from seeds. Much more 

 should lie done in the raising of seedlings from hybrids 

 for woodland plariting. The probability is, in such case, 

 that these will give a wide variety, while there is always 

 the possibility of something even better than the named 

 parent plant. 



and early Summer-flowering hylirids. Some crossing has 

 been done with these species already, and especially with 

 R. occidentale, but the hybrids invariablv flower in ad- 



(.Coiiitesy of The Garden) 



The IP'hite-Flowered Fonn of Rhododendron 

 Occidentale 



Rhododendro.v occidentale. — This species was first 

 introduced from Western North America, about the 

 middle of last century. It is the best of the late-flowering 

 section, lieing at its best about Midsummer Day and last- 

 ing; well into July. For planting in open woodland with, 

 possibly, a running stream we can scarcely wish for any- 

 thing better. There are forms with white flowers and a 

 vellow blotch, and others of pleasing pink shades. The 

 deepest form at Kew is labeled R. occidentale var. roseum. 

 By crossing this species with some of the earlier-flowering 

 section Anthony Waterer has raised a number of h\-brids 

 with light-colored blossoms. 



Nijt the least desirable character of R. occidentale is 

 that flowers and foliage develop together, and added to 

 this is a delicious fragrance. Eight to ten feet, appears to 

 be the ultimate average height of large bushes. 



