Rhododendron lowndesii
Billeder af Rhododendron lowndesii
Beskrivelse
R. lowdensii (Lepidota). Små krybende buske op til 25 cm. Blomstrer i maj-juni og er lysegule med pletter. Meget værdsatte og yderst sjældne i dyrkning. Findes på tørre klippeområder og tørveholdige skråninger fra 3800-4550 m i Nepal. Må plantes på et beskyttet område.
Hans Eiberg
Ikke Flora of China
RBGE Herbarium; R. lowndesii
RHS Gardening; R. lowndesii
Family: Ericaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Genus: Rhododendron
Genus description:
Rhododendron can be evergreen or deciduous shrubs or trees, with simple leaves, sometimes with a dense colourful indumentum of hairs on the lower side, and funnel-shaped, bell-shaped or tubular flowers that may be solitary or in short racemes
Name status: Correct
Usefull temperate plants
R. lowndesii is native to the higher elevations of the Himalayas, where it can be found at elevations up to 4,500 metres. A moderately cold-tolerant plant, when fully dormant it can withstand temperatures down to about -20°c. Although cold-tolerant when dormant, the flowers and young growth of Rhododendrons are very susceptible to damage by late frosts in regions where these are likely to occur after new growth has commenced in the spring.
Rhododendron species generally succeed when grown in a non-compacted, humus rich lime free soil and a position with some shade, preferably light woodland shade. They strongly dislike soils of a dry arid nature, heavy soils or clays. Prefers a peaty or well-drained sandy loam. Succeeds in sun or shade, the warmer the climate the more shade a plant requires. Requires a pH between 4.5 and 5.5.
Rhododendron species are mainly woodland species that grow well in the dappled shade and shelter given by the other woodland plants. They are surface-rooting species with a fibrous root system, however, and do not grow well close to trees that are also surface-rooting, nor do they do well with ground cover or other small plants growing over or into their roots.
Plants form a root ball and are very tolerant of being transplanted, even when quite large, so long as the root ball is kept intact.