Gardens: the rhodos return

They're the plant we love to hate, but rhododendrons are long overdue a comebackThere is a general, and not always unspoken agreement that rhododendrons are uncool. In the early 1970s, my brother and I were raised in a garden full of them – once a collector's pride and joy, I imagine, all laid out in an orderly fashion. But after years of neglect, it became an arena for two small boys. Many firsts happened beneath those lofty canopies: tree house, camp, fire and kiss.But ask me if there were any special ones (rhododendrons, that is) and I could not tell you – just a mass of mauves. Perhaps that's why they fell from grace; consigned to an era of glam rock, bell-bottoms and Angel Delight. As the world moved on, they remained garish and unpopular, especially the habitat-stealing Rhododendron ponticum. Extensive breeding has resulted in many improvements, but also many more hideous creations with awful names. Trays of retina-burning miniature plants for sale at garden centres put people off this worthy member of the heather family, Ericaceae.I love rhododendrons as providers of interest and structure for planting schemes and pots. My two rules are: keep things discerning by seeking out types that are either true species or pretty close to what nature intended; and avoid garish colours, particularly purples and oranges. The more delicate whites, pinks and pale yellows are more likely to harmonise with their neighbours. Recently, plant breeders created ...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Tags: The Guardian Features Plants Life and style Gardens Source Type: news