5. The blotched corner
Rhododendron cultivars with blotched flowers.
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A great number of Rhododendron species have blotches on the petal tubes, often purple-colored, more rarely greenish yellow. They serve as guidelines for insects in search of nectar or pollen. For rhodoholics they give the flower a particular beauty.
These blotches are particularly conspicuous in R. caucasicum and R. maximum, used as parents for some of the more spectacular cultivars. R. maximum is a parent of the German cultivar ‘Humboldt’ – a long time favourite (although there are now improved successors such as ‘Kokardia’). R. caucasicum has, however, been the most important of the two. Amongst its offspring, “the maculate, noble ladies” (across the road) are among the more important. Others include the beautiful ‘Mrs. Furnival’ and her ‘children’ some of which are grouped around her here, e.g. ‘Mrs. Furnival’s Daughter’, ‘Hachmann’s Diadem’ and ‘Hachmann’s Charmant’.
Also in the collection: 'Azurro', 'Bariton', 'Belle Heller', 'Blau Jungs', 'Blue Boy', 'Blue Peter', ‘Cherry Cheesecake', 'Edeltraud', 'Edwin O. Weber', ‘Extraordinaire', 'Hachmann's Picobello', 'Hyperion', 'Ice Music', 'Kabarett', 'Kokardia', 'Kordesa', 'Le Progres', 'Loch Faskally', 'Marley Hedges', 'Marsalla', 'Mercator', 'Metallica', 'Mrs. T.H. Lowinsky', 'Olin O. Dobbs', 'Peter Alan', 'Pfauenauge', 'Sapporo', 'Schneeauge', 'Trail Blazer', 'Winter Spice'
