22. Alpenroses
Cultivars of dwarf Rhododendron species from the Alps and Pogonanthum-group.
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The first rhododendron species to be described was a dwarf shrub from the Alps. For this reason, rhododendrons are often referred to as “alperoser” in Norwegian. These “alpen roses” are rather dissimilar to “ordinary” rhododendrons. They are dwarf, alpine plants with small, pink flowers.
The three species in this group, R. ferrugineum, R. hirsutum, and R. myrtifolium, have not been used much in breeding, and those cultivars that are still in the trade are rarely planted in gardens.
We have also placed the few named cultivars of the closely related Pogonanthum-group here, the best being the American ‘Maricee’. ‘Arctic Tern’ is interesting because it is a cross with Rhododendron tomentosum, formerly classified as Ledum palustre. Recent analyses have unmasked Ledum as interlopers within the evolutionary tree of Rhododendron (not separate branches within the family Ericaceae). Thus, all Ledum species are now included within Rhododendron. Across the road we continue with cultivars of other lepidotes (those with scales on the leaves). Particularly the Rhododendron saluenense-group has given rise to some fine low-growing, large-flowering plants such as ‘Lavandula’ and ‘Reuthe’s Purple’. The Norwegian-American breeder W. Berg has managed to create something quite new in ‘Wee Bee’ crossing R. campylogynum with R. keiskei.
