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How to identify Rhododendron Ponticum vs other rhodo varieties
After watching The Great British Garden Revival I'm loving planning things to do in my garden.
I have 4 different rhododendrons in my garden, which all flower at different times and I love them. I'm just wary as to whether any of them are Rhododendron Ponticum. 1 does have the purple flower and looks like it might be.
Is there any way I can easily identify if it is ? All four of mine have different types of leaves so I'm thinking that might be a way to identify it.
Any advice gratefully received.
thank you. x
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Hmm I'm thinking that one is, will keep an eye on it and when have some spare ££ remove and plant up with another variety.
We have a ponticum growing up between two others - i had to tie ribbons round the purple flowered branches to tell the difference. Once i had done that the differences in the barks became quite obvious - in our case the ponticum is quite scaly, whereas the others have a well defined pattern almost like a snakeskin. Not sure all the non-ponticums look like this, but worth having a compare.
Also Peanuts, if I remember rightly you are in Camberley? If so, there is a specialist rhodie grower (gets gold medals at chelsea and everything
) in Churt (down south of Farnham) called Millais. They are really friendly and really knowledgeable, and I bet if you brought them a sprig of one in flower they would be able to identify it for you. Just check the website before you make the journey - they have quite random opening times
Oh my goodness Chicky, you are amazing! what a great memory and what great advise. I actually saw that company at Chelsea two years ago and had thought about it then, but had forgotten. I will certainly look them up and take a trip over to them. You never know I might come away with a new rhodie to go in its place.
Thank you so much !
Glad I could help