June 27, 2019

Plant of the Week: Dandy Man® Pink Rhododendron

A rhododendron that's hardy, heat-tolerant, and is resistant to root rot? That would be dandy!

And here it is: Dandy Man® Pink Rhododendron. This R. hyperythrum hybrid is attractive, too, with an attractive habit and enticing pink flowers.

Dandy Man® Pink Rhododendron
Dandy Man® Pink rhododendron grows 4-8' tall and wide, and is hardy to USDA Zone 5.

Rhododendron...or azalea? It's complicated.

The easy answer would be something along the lines of that infamous Supreme Court ruling re: pornography: "I know it when I see it." But that's hard to implement in a legal system, and it's just as difficult to use in botany.

For a good description for either subject one needs a very precise description:

"True rhododendrons have 10 or more stamens which is 2 per lobe. Azaleas usually have 5 stamens or 1 per lobe. Azaleas have 5 lobes in a flower.

Azaleas tend to have appressed hairs which is hair parallel to the surface of the leaf. This is particularly true along the midrib on the underside of the leaf. It is easily seen in "evergreen" azaleas. True rhododendrons instead of hair are often scaly or have small dots on the under side of the leaf. Azalea leaves are never dotted with scales and are frequently pubescent."

   - New York Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society

Trust me that a detailed explanation of plant taxonomy is less disturbing that that of pornography. If you need a refresher on flower anatomy, here's a good one. The other, well, you're on your own.

If you'd like something a little hardier, consider Dandy Man® Purple rhododendron, which goes into USDA Zone 4. It, too, grows 4-8' tall and wide as does the newest Dandy, Dandy Man Color Wheel®. All of these plants will grow in full sun or partial shade.

Dandy Man Color Wheel® Rhododendron 
One final note: Rhododendron is toxic to livestock. Rhododendron is also toxic to dogs and cats although they are less likely to consume it than livestock. As it says on the University of Maryland Extension website: "As is the case with most toxic plants, prevention is key." Years ago I got a phone call from a rancher whose cattle had gotten into some Taxus, also toxic. It was terrible. Be safe out there.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles

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