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Where to find single-stem rhododendron?

Guy-in-NorwichGuy-in-Norwich Posts: 6
in Plants
I'd like to plant one or two rhododendrons, and I'd like to aim for eventual "bonsai"-ish shape: not multi-stem bush, but equally not over-neat standard. But all young plants in garden centres seem to be already pruned to multi-stem bush form. Where can I find young single-stem plants? Or maybe I should find a bush with a good main stem, and prune all the rest? Forgive me if these are dumb questions. - Guy
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They naturally grow in a shrubby, broad, multi stemmed habit, which is why the ones you'll find in GCs will already look that way- they aren't pruned to make them look like that.  :)
    If you want one as a standard, or similar, you'd have to buy one and prune it over several years. Not really a plant suited to that treatment IMO though. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    There are some Standard (i.e. single stem) rhododendrons
    Here's your starter for 10...

    https://www.google.com/search?q=standard+rhododendron+uk&rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBGB1042GB1042&sxsrf=APwXEdee2Btf3ujkrXdt0UT4SsBciTm2Mg%3A1680353895544&ei=ZyooZNTjII6dgQa7-ZX4Cw&ved=0ahUKEwiUs6mI3oj-AhWOTsAKHbt8Bb8Q4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=standard+rhododendron+uk&gs_lcp=Cgxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAQAzIFCAAQgAQyCAgAEIoFEIYDMggIABCKBRCGAzoKCAAQRxDWBBCwAzoGCAAQFhAeOggIABAWEB4QD0oECEEYAFCQB1iQC2DfDWgBcAF4AIABdYgBtgKSAQMxLjKYAQCgAQHIAQjAAQE&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - a lot of pruning/training @Pete.8, hence the prices  ;)
    Millais is certainly a highly respected grower/supplier.
    Maybe I'm biased in not liking them controlled in that way, especially as they're such a staple of Scottish gardens in spring.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Go to a specialist grower.  I have dealt with Reuthe, Hydon and Millais.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Guy-in-NorwichGuy-in-Norwich Posts: 6
    Thanks so much for helpful responses! I still think that standard nursery plants have their main stem lopped or buds pinched to favour flowering and branching, I don't think that's natural habit.
  • Guy-in-NorwichGuy-in-Norwich Posts: 6
    Reuthe's looks brilliant! 👍🏼
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    Guy-in-Norwich said:
    Thanks so much for helpful responses! I still think that standard nursery plants have their main stem lopped or buds pinched to favour flowering and branching, I don't think that's natural habit.
    The natural shape is a multi-stemmed shrub. as seen in the many (pest) self seeders all over the West coast of Scotland.
    Sunny Dundee
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Out of curiosity,why do you want to achieve this, presumably most folk like me who grow them do so for the beautiful flowers?
  • Guy-in-NorwichGuy-in-Norwich Posts: 6
    edited April 2023


    Hi Nanny Beach... this is my idea of a beautiful rhododendron, though I realise it'd take 20+ years to get there! (Pulled from the internet.)

    Hi Balgay.Hill... not disputing that R ponticum is naturally a multi-stemmed shrub. But betcha young mainstream-retail plants undergo terminal bud pinching 🙂 (And I guess deer and sheep probably do some less systematic pinching in the wild.)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    There's a huge difference between a nursery nipping out the ends of stems to keep a plant contained for sale, and actively pruning to create a particular shape.
    Left to their own devices, they'd have hundreds [possibly thousands]  of plants which would need to be constantly potted into larger and larger containers. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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