Rhododendron Shrub Blooms For First Time In Over 20 Years

Tue, 04 May 2010

A rhododendron plant has flowered for the first time in 24 years despite enduring the coldest winter on record for 30 years.

The rhododendron macebeanum shrub was planted as a sapling in 1986 by gardener Ray Brown, from Newton Abbott, Devon.

After two decades of no activity, the 10ft rhododendron macebeanum has finally produced a flourish of white and yellow blooms, much to the delight of Mr Brown.

The garden enthusiast said it was worth the wait to see the plant finally come alive at his Plant World gardens and nursery centre.

"No blooms appeared for so long that at one stage I thought about sawing it down but the enormous leathery pendulous leaves are extremely attractive, so I spared it," he said.

"I waited and waited for the flowers as it grew a few inches a year until it was around ten feet tall – but still no blooms appeared.

"Then last summer I chopped down the very tall and boring laurels that were growing all around it as they might have been stealing the light."

"After the worst winter in memory, what a surprise to see absolutely enormous buds swelling out all over, 24 years after planting. It is now performing in full splendour bearing huge trusses of pale lemon, purple throated flowers ."

The rhododendron macebeanum originate from north-east India . The plant can live for hundreds of years in the wild and can grow to a height of 50 feet.
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