Ehododendron catawbiense at 5,000 feet elevation, western North Carolina. Mt. Mitchell 6.GOO feet 
the highest point east of the Rockies in the distance 
MAKING RHODODENDRON BEDS 
AND THE PLANTING AND CARE OF NATIVE PLANTS 
The Azaleas, Rhododendrons and nearly all ericaceous plants of this general type ottered in our cata¬ 
log are erroneously considered by many very difficult to grow successfully. This is because proper con¬ 
ditions of soil and location are not supplied, and one should boar in mind that in planting these things it 
is absolutely essential to start aright. 
Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias and a large variety of American plants grow naturally in shady, 
damp situations, and are surface feeders with fine, hair-like roots; therefore drought chocks 
growth or kills outright very quickly. In preparing bods for those things, and especially Rhododendrons, 
a northern exposure should be chosen where possible, and preferably whore thero is shade much of the 
day. Excavate to a depth of 2 to .‘1 foot or more, and till in with a mixture of loaf-mold, 
surface loam, swamp peat or muck or field sods, with a few loads of sharp sand. 
All material should be well rotted and mixed. The ground should bo kept thoroughly 
mulched with loaves and moisture supplied in dry weather. Well-rotted manure may bo 
used in preparing beds and ns an occasional top-dressing, but in no case must stimulating 
or heating manure be used. 
Ericaceous plants will not grow in soil containing largo quantities of lime in any 
form, and dry, hard ground is sure death. Almost any material containing vegetable matter 
will servo ns a mulch. 
In winter protect Rhododendrons with pine or spruce boughs, particularly whoro exposed 
to the sun. Winter sun on the frozen leaves often kills Rhododendrons or spoils 
the foliage. 
Of course, a majority of the plants do not need such care, but all 
well repay careful preparation of beds and planting. Forns and herba¬ 
ceous plants especially thrive in the Rhododendron bed, and such an 
evergreen border may be made to produce a profusion of bloom the whole 
season by a judicious selection of species. 
In planting the rockery, see that forns and other plants havo 
soil connecting with the oarili below, otherwise they dry out and die. 
With these instructions carefully carried out, our Native Plants are 
hardy and may bo grown throughout the United States except, perhaps, 
in the extreme North and Northwest, and the 
same may well bo said of our beautiful native 
plants as of any others: give a good, rich, deep 
soil, with abundant well-decayed vegeta- 
bio food and good drainage, and the re¬ 
sults must bo satisfactory. Wo will 
glodly give advice and suggestions in 
this lino to any one wishing to know bet- 
to successfully grow our charming native 
plants. Highlands Nursery is the only collection of 
hardy American plants exclusively in tho United 
States. Over J00 acres and 000 species of native plants. 
NOTE.—The sizes immediately after the common 
names denote heights attained by each species in its wild 
state. In cultiration the lesser size may be assumed its 
usual limit of growth. 
E. maximum 
E. catawbiense 
E. punctatum 
Photo*jr»r>h showing cr.Trip.-irathe sizes and shapes of our three ln-st species of 
American Rhododendron. One-third to one-half natural size 
N0TF All these Rhododendrons are perfectly hardy 
* in the latitude of Quebec. 
I 
