Rhododendron

Do you want to plant a Rhododendron? Here you will find all the information you need on how to best plant the Rhododendron, and on pruning and caring for your Rhododendron.
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General characteristics of a Rhododendron

Rhododendrons are often planted in parks and on estates. The plant propagates vegetatively and by seeds quite easily and is considered an invasive species that disrupts biodiversity in many places in Western Europe.

All parts of the plant are poisonous, even the nectar.

Characteristics


How to plant a Rhododendron

Let op: bepaalde soorten Rhododendrons kunnen zich invasief gedragen, vooral Rhododendron ponticum. In Nederland komt dat met name voor bij verwilderde aanplant van landgoederen en in duingebieden. In de tuin functioneren Rhododendrons prima, mits goed onderhouden.

How to harvest a Rhododendron

Harvesting cuttings

Caring for and pruning your Rhododendron

Na de bloei snoeien: knip direct na de bloei de uitgebloeide bloemtrossen weg, net boven de eerste bladkrans. Dit voorkomt zaadvorming en stimuleert nieuwe scheutgroei.

Vormsnoei: verwijder takken die te ver uitsteken of de struik uit balans brengen. Doe dit bij voorkeur in het late voorjaar of vroege zomer.

Verjongingssnoei: bij sterk verouderde of kale planten kun je takken tot 30–50 cm boven de grond terugsnoeien. Doe dit gefaseerd over 2–3 jaar om de plant niet te verzwakken.

Onderhoud: verwijder dode of zieke takken altijd direct.

Where does a Rhododendron grow

Park and estate type and gardens


General

Origin
Alien
Cultivar
Tree Type Deciduous tree

Length and Age

Length in about 10 years 3 Up to Meter
Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years 10 Up to 50 year
Maximum Age Up to year
Required Space Up to m2
Growth Rate

Reproduction

Tree is Self-Pollinating No
Reproduction Method
Makes layers
Makes seedlings
Makes root shoots
Reproduction rate

Reproduction rate

1. Very low reproduction rate. The plant hardly spreads, has few seeds or vegetative spread (e.g., trees with heavy seeds).
2. Low reproduction rate. Spread via limited seed production or specific conditions required
3. Average reproduction rate. Regular spread, depending on wind, water, or animals, at a moderate speed (e.g., dandelion).
4. High reproduction rate. Many seeds and multiple spread strategies (wind, birds, vegetative). Quickly colonizes open spaces
5. Very high reproduction rate. Invasive species that spread explosively over large distances (e.g., Japanese knotweed).

Pruning Period

This Tree is Evergreen No
Summer May tot June
Winter Information not available
Leaf Shapes Elongated
Easy to prune No

Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Bud Position Information not available
Bud Shape Information not available

Other

Root
Broad root system
Superficial rooting
Bloom
Has flowers
Wind sensitivity Not sensitive to (sea) wind

Diseases

Sensitive to the Following Diseases Information not available

Harvest/recognition in winter

Large shiny leaves, always green

Light requirement of the Rhododendron

The Rhododendron thrives best under these light conditions.
  • Partial shade

    • Suitable soil types for the Rhododendron

    In this overview, you can find which soil types are best for the Rhododendron to grow.
    Soil type Suitability
    light clay
    heavy clay
    sand
    peatland
    Loam
    Moerig op zand
    Lichte zavel
    Zware zavel

    Humidity

    A (ground)water level indicates how deep the groundwater usually is below the surface. The higher the Roman numeral, the deeper the groundwater.
    I
    II
    III
    IV
    V
    VI
    VII
    VIII

    Suitable acidity level for the Rhododendron

    Each soil type has a certain acidity level, measured in pH values. You can plant the Rhododendron in soil that falls within this range:
    0.0
    0.5
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0

    Nutritional needs of the Rhododendron

    Some soil types offer more nutritional richness than others.
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Very nutrient-poor soil
    2. Very nutrient-poor to nutrient-poor soil
    3. Nutrient-poor soil
    4. Nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich soil
    5. Moderately nutrient-rich soil
    6. Moderately nutrient-rich to nutrient-rich soil
    7. Nutrient-rich soil
    8. Extremely nutrient-rich soil
    9. Very extremely nutrient-rich soil

    Humidity

    Does Rhododendron like to have its roots in extremely dry (1.0) or wet (9.0) soil?
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Extremely dry soils
    2. Extremely dry to dry soils
    3. Dry soils
    4. Dry to dry/moist soils
    5. Dry/moist soils
    6. Dry/moist to moist soils
    7. Moist soils
    8. Moist to wet soils
    9. Wet soils

    To be applied in landscapes

    0 = not filled in, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Landscape Suitability
    Agroforestry
    Hedge
    Hedge
    Forest
    Feeding hedge
    Back yard
    Small back yard
    Solitary
    Wood wall

    Cultural-historical value

    0 = not filled in, 1 = low, 9 = high

    Insects

    How many insects typically live on this tree/plant? 1
    Which insect groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there insects dependent on this species? No
    Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Birds

    Average number of birds per tree/plant?
    Which bird groups live on this tree/plant?

    Mammals

    Average number of mammals per tree/plant?
    Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there mammals dependent on this species? No
    Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Bloom Period

    Summer April Up to June

    Tree Species

    Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with

    Suitable for mammals?

    toxic, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Mammal Suitability
    Beavers
    Human
    Squirrel
    Badgers
    Ferret
    Goat
    Herbivorous rodents
    Dog
    Deer
    Cat
    Chicken
    Cow
    Mouse
    Horse
    Roe deer
    Sheep
    Pig
    Foxes
    Wild boar

    Explanation

    Explanation

    Edibility

    • Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
    1. Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
    2. Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
    3. Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
    4. Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
    5. Very suitable: This tree or shrub is very suitable as food for mammals, safe, and of high nutritional value.


    Trunk Height

    Average Trunk Height (hg) of the basal area median tree

    from - to, in whole meters, average

    Information not available

    Trunk Diameter

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.

    from - to, in whole centimeters, average

    Information not available

    Aboveground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Belowground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Substance Binder

    Which substances can be bound or absorbed?
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    Carbon Attraction (kf)

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree Deciduous Trees (Kf = 0,48)

    Warming Resistance

    This tree is well resistant to the warming (plus 3 degrees) of our climate and fits into the future of our climate (heat and drought resistant). No
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    CO2

    0. not filled in
    1. no storage
    2. low storage
    3. moderate storage
    4. high storage
    5. very high storage

    Fine Dust

    0. not filled in
    1. no capture capacity
    2. low capture capacity
    3. moderate capture capacity
    4. high capture capacity
    5. very high capture capacity

    This is what an adult tree Rhododendron looks like

    A mature Rhododendron shrub in bloom

    This is what a Rhododendron in bloom looks like

    A mature Rhododendron in bloom
    Flower of the Rhododendron

    This is what the bud of a Rhododendron looks like

    Buds of the Rhododendron