Rhododendrons for the smaller garden
| Rhododendrons for the smaller garden | Online catalogue |
The Glendoick paper and online catalogues are divided up into sections and categories in order to aid selection. This webpage gives details on each category and you can click through to online ordering from here.
The lepidote or scaly-leaved rhododendron species are characterised by their small leaves, covered in tiny scales, just visible with the naked eye. They include many dwarf and alpine species and many of the most popular hybrids have been bred from them. Most Lepidotes are dwarf and semi-dwarf plants. Sections Triflora, Heliolepida and Cinnabarina and Maddenia contain larger growing species. Many in SS Maddenia are tender, making popular indoor plants.
Dwarf Lepidote Hybrids 15cm-1.5m. H3-5 Low-growing alpine plants which are ideal for the small garden, rock garden or raised bed. Most smother themselves in flower and have small scaly leaves and are dense twiggy growers. As with most alpine plants, they must be grown in the open away from the drips of trees, though in southern England they are best in part-day shade. Glendoick is famous for the ‘bird’ series of dwarf hybrids bred by Peter and Kenneth Cox, now some of the best known hybrids in the world. See under Lapponica (below) for dwarf blue-purple hybrids. For larger areas we recommend planting in 3s and 5s of each kind to make impressive carpets. Most of them can be planted 1m apart to that they will form dense mats in 5-10 years.
Glendoick Bird hybrids click here
Lepidote Species
Campylogyna
A single species: CAMPYLOGYNUM These gems for the peat bed or rock garden are a Glendoick speciality. Nodding little thimble-shaped flowers and neat foliage. Free-flowering, late April into June, depending on the form. Others available in smaller quantities. Click here to order plants
CAMPYLOGYNUM crem. ‘BODNANT RED’ H4 Semi-Dwf M Impressive red flowers in early May.
CAMPYLOGYNUM WHITE (leucanthum) H4 Dwarf M Creamy-white bells.
CAMPYLOGYNUM SBEC 0519 H4 Semi-Dwf M Dark purple-red bells. Dark leaves, compact. Needs good drainage
Glauca 60cm-1m. H(2)3-4. Bell-shaped flowers. Aromatic foliage. Unusual & charming. Glendoick has national collection.
BRACHYANTHUM var. HYPOLEPIDOTUM H3-4 Semi-Dwf L Small nodding yellow thimbles in June-July. Mound forming, with very aromatic leaves.
CHARITOPES F. 25570 H4 Semi-Dwf EM Apple-blossom pink. Dark green aromatic foliage. VAR TSANGPOENSE purple.
GLAUCOPHYLLUM H3-4 Semi-Dwf EM-M Pink-purple waxy bells. Compact Habit.
LUTEIFLORUM K.W. 21556 H3 Low EM Beautiful bright yellow. Dark foliage. The hardiest and best clone of this species. Needs shelter for early fls.
PRUNIFLORUM H3-4 Low L Unusual small dusky purple fls. Useful for its late flowering. A bushy grower with peeling bark.
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Lapponica Click here to order plants
Lapponica Species and Hybrids (including Fragariflora) The Lapponica species are found on high altitude moorland: they have small or tiny leaves, twiggy growth and a mass of flowers, mostly in the purple-blue spectrum, though several species have white or yellow flowers. They are carpeting plants, best grown in clumps in full light away from the drips of trees. Many are very hardy but few have much heat tolerance. The best put on a spectacular show. Several species and hybrids have frost hardy flowers which is a boon in cold gardens. Easiest to grow are R. fastigiatum and many of its hybrids such as 'Ramapo', 'Blue Tit', 'Night Sky' and 'Penheale Blue'
FASTIGIATUM ‘INDIGO STEEL’ CH 7159 SELECT H5 Dwarf M Purple-blue. A Glendoick selection with excellent blue-grey foliage. Very compact and slow growing.
FASTIGIATUM SBEC 0804 H5 Dwarf M $ Purple-blue. Lovely glaucous foliage. Probably the best Lapponica species for general planting.
HIPPOPHAEOIDES 'HABA SHAN' H5-6 Low EM Powder-blue, very frost-hardy fls. Grey-green leaves on a upright bush. May need spraying for mildew.
NITIDULUM var. OMEIENSE K.R. 185. H5 Dwarf ML Rich purple-blue, later than most Lapponicas. Mt. Omei. Compact habit
POLYCLADUM (scintillans) F.C.C. H5 Semi-dwf EM-M Intense blue. Arching shoots with tiny leaves.
RUPICOLA H5 Semi-Dwf EM-M Shades of purple. Requires good drainage. VAR. CHRYSEUM yellow flowers.
RUSSATUM H5 Semi-Dwf EM. Deepest purple fls, upright habit.
SETOSUM H5 Semi-Dwf EM-M Purple-pink. Hairy leaves. Very rare
Lapponica Hybrids These well-known purple-blue hybrids are the best of the many we have tested; ‘Blue Diamond’ and others have been superseded
BLUE TIT MAGOR H5 Low M Rich violet blue. One of best of the larger growing 'blues'. Tough and relatively late flowering.
INTRIFAST (fastigiatum selection) H5 $ Dwarf EM-M Purple-blue. Lovely glaucous-blue leaves. Very compact. An excellent plant.
NIGHT SKY H5 Semi-Dwf M Blue with purple tones. Neat but vigorous, compact. Later than most similar 'blues.
PENHEALE BLUE H4 Low EM-M Deep violet blue. Leaves turn reddish bronze in winter. One of the best hybrids of this type.
RAMAPO H5 Semi-Dwf EM-M $ Pale violet. Fine foliage: a lovely grey-blue-green. Tough.
Leda (formerly Ledum
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DIVERSILOSUM 'Milky Way' H4-5 Low ML Masses of small white fls. Very aromatic foliage. ssp. SUBARCTICUM H5 Mass of tiny white flowers in May. Tiny leaves. Prostrate habit, looks dead in winter.
.Moupinensia 30cm-1m. H4-5. Epiphytic species with charming flowers.
DENDROCHARIS GLENDOICK® GEM ['GLE 002'] CC&H 3915 H4-5 Dwarf EM Fine deep pink flowers in early Spring. Probably the finest dwarf species introduced in recent years. Tiny leaves & neat compact habit. Hardy at Glendoick. Needs good drainage. April (outdoors) March (indoors).
MOUPINENSE PINK H4 Low VE Pale pink, flushed deeper pink, very early. One of the earliest species to bloom and able to withstand a few degrees of frost. Drought resistant. 'FULMAR' (C&K ) NEW H4 Low VE A newly named Glendoick selection. Showy white with red spotting, very early.
PETROCHARIS Guiz 120 H4 Semi-Dwf VE Pure white flowers, early, charming. Compact with larger leaves than R. dendrocharis. The first introduction. Full sun tends to give it yellowish leaves
Rhododendron H4-5 30-60cm. Low-growing European native species
FERRUGINEUM H5 Semi-Dwf L The 'Alpenrose'. Deep rose-pink, late. Hardy and versatile. Full sun as it dislikes drips from overhanging trees.
Rhodorastra 60cm-2.5m. H5. Extremely hardy, deciduous and with flowers early in the season on bare branches, these species hardly look like rhododendrons at all. They can be pruned hard after flowering to encourage a bushy habit. Parents of early flowered hybrids such as ‘Praecox’.
DAURICUM 'MID-WINTER' H5 Tall VE Small frost-resistant bright rose-purple, on bare stems in December-February. The first species to bloom here, so great for winter colour.
MUCRONULATUM VAR. CHEJUENSE (syn. var. taquettii) H5 Semi-Dwf E Spectacular pink-purple flowers in March-April. A neat deciduous plant, with fine autumn colour. ‘CORNELL PINK’ taller, pink.
SICHOTENSE H5-6 Tall VE-E Purple, early. Semi-deciduous. Bronzy-purple winter leaves. Tougher than ‘Midwinter’ when young.
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Saluenensia, & Lepidota, H4 30cm-1.5m. Fine dwarf species CALOSTROTUM 'GIGHA' H4 Semi-Dwf M Spectacular large rosy-red. One of our favourites, named after the Scottish island. Compact, with attractive 
glaucous aromatic foliage. Occasionally subject to powdery mildew & rust..
CALOSTROTUM SSP. KELETICUM ROCK 58 H4 Dwarf ML Relatively large, flat-faced purple, late. Spreading habit. The best form we have seen; should be in every garden.
CALOSTROTUM SSP. KELETICUM RADICANS Gp. H4-5 Dwarf L Rich purple, on long stalks in early June. One of the smallest of all rhododendrons. Excellent for rock garden & trough. Dense dark shiny leaves.
SALUENENSE PROSTRATUM Gp. H4 Dwarf EM-M Purple, in April-May. New introductions of this rare low-growing form with creeping shoots.
LEPIDOTUM CW H4 Semi-Dwf L Small white, yellow or purple fls. Tiny leaves. Semi-deciduous.
Scabrifolia H3-5. Low-med. Clusters of pink-reddish flowers from axillary buds..
RACEMOSUM H4 EM-M. Masse of pink flowers in April. 2012-13.
SPINULIFERUM Low-med H3 M Pink to red tubular fls. Hardy on a wall at Glendoick. Few till 2012-13.
Tephropepla & Trichoclada 60cm-2m. H3-4
HANCEANUM CANTON CONSUL H4 Semi-Dwf ML Cream white. A bonus is bronze new growth.
‘NANUM’ H4 Dwarf ML Bright yellow. Rare. Slow-growing. Dislikes summer heat.
LEPIDOSTYLUM H4 Semi-Dwf-Low L Small bright yellow, late. One of the finest dwarfs for foliage, hairy glaucous blue young leaves. Habit compact, wider than high.
Subgenus Therorhodion
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CAMTSCHATICUM H6 Dwarf L Purple fls held on stalks above the foliage, in June. Unusual species, given its own Genus by some authorities. Native to Alaska and does best in the north. A deciduous creeper, often flowers twice a year. Red flowered forms Striking bright red, a wonderful plant. We may also have small quantities of the White form.
Uniflora 10-40cm. H3-4. A small group of species for the connoisseur with charming flowers. All need cool roots, good drainage and a little extra care. R. pemakoense is quite easy.
IMPERATOR K.W. 6884 (Burma) H3-4 Dwarf EM-M Masses of showy purplish-pink fls. Small pointed lvs. Best covered with a cloche in winter. Rare and choice.
LUDLOWII H4 Dwarf M Yellow with red spots. Very rare. Peat bed with good drainage. A choice but rather tricky dwarf.
PEMAKOENSE H4 Semi-Dwf EM Masses of pale pink fls which need protection from frost. Compact and neat.
PUMILUM H4 Dwarf EM-M Tiny pink bell-shaped fls. For the connoisseur, with tiny leaves. Grow in a peat bed. Tricky. Click here to order plants
Pogonanthum section Species & Hybrids 30cm-1.5m. Mostly H4. Connoisseur favourites for their distinctive daphne-like flowers and aromatic foliage. Irresistible in flower, have particular requirements: good drainage, cool roots in summer, near neutral soil (we use lime to reduce the acidity of our soil) and very little if any fertiliser. Glendoick has the NCCPG National Collection
ANTHOPOGON 'BETTY GRAHAM' L&S 1091 H4-5 Semi-Dwf EM Bright pink. Dark foliage. The finest form of this species. Needs extra care.
ANTHOPOGON var. HYPENANTHUM 'ANNAPURNA' SSW 9090. H4 Semi-Dwf EM Pale yellow. Small dark leaves. Neat habit.
CEPHALANTHUM CREBREFLORUM Gp. H4 Dwarf EM-M Cream- pink. Very slow growing and compact. One of our special favourites.
CEPHALANTHUM NMAIENSE Gp. C.V. 9513 H4 Semi-Dwf M Pale yellow, cream or pale pink in early May. Quite easy. First ever introduction by Kenneth Cox.
PRIMULIFLORUM 'DOKER LA' H4 Semi-Dwf EM-M Covers itself with clear pink fls. Fairly easy to grow. Needs good drainage. One of our favourites.
SARLED (sargentianum x trichostomum) H4 Semi-Dwf M Pale pink buds, long-lasting white daphne-like fls. Neat and compact. Quite easy.
TRICHOSTOMUM PINK H4 Semi-Dwf ML Fine pink daphne-like fls. Dark green aromatic leaves. Grows in dry woodland in the wild.
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