IRISH GARDENING 



Rhododendron callimorphum* 



AM()N(iST the choicer species of C'liincsc lilindd- 

 dendrons recently introduced IL (■<iUliiitirj)lni m 

 seems destined to develop into a shnil) ot out- 

 standing merit. In <^t'neial appraiance tlir 

 plant sup:<j;ests a diniinuti\c I'oi'ni of Ii. 

 Tli(inix(ini . with its roiuided leaf ami L;laucoii'- 



flowers are home in a loose, yet sliapel}-, truss, 

 the opening bud being of a brilliant clicny-ifd, 

 fading off as the flowers expand to a delicate 

 rose-pink faintly tinged with lilac; the corolla 

 unspiotted but l)eautifull\- blotched with ciitn- 

 son at the bast'. The group of ))lants shown in 

 the accompanying illustration, picpaicd from a 

 photogi'aph taken in the rock gai'den here last 

 .May, pro\idc(| a \ery attractive feature at the 



Rhododendron c.vlijmoiu'hum 

 111 the "Rnek GaT'don, at Eowallano 



underside. The habit is sturdy, compact and 

 symmetrical, calculated to produce individual 

 specimens of good pi'ojjortions and attractive 

 appearance. Bloom-buds set freely and do not 

 expand here until early in May, a season when 

 injury from frost is unusual. After 9 or 10 

 years experience of this plant I have no hesita- 

 tion in pronouncing it hardy here, and possessed 

 of a good constitution, though growth is slow, 

 and seedlings take, perhaps, 7 or 8 years to 

 reach the flowering stage. The campanulatc 



base of a massive rock-face with a northerly 

 aspect in cool ground sheltered from sun. 

 Culturally the plant is by no means difficult to 

 satisf}', and perhaps rhe Ramondia pijrenaica 

 seen in the background of the illustration, sup- 

 plies the keynote as regards aspect. Given 

 shelter from mid-day sun and cutting winds 

 this Rhododendron, like many another, will 

 thrive in a compost of light loam, sandy peat 

 and leaf-mould, with the proverbial mulching f)f 

 decaved leaves to ensure a cool root-run. In 



