Victorian Valentine web special

Victorian Valentine web specialThis lovely rich blood red flowering rhododendron blooms at Valentine's Day, thus the name. Hybridized by the late Fred Cummings of Berkeley, California, the plant has exceptionally nice rich green leaves and white tomentum on the stems. This is due to one of its parents being R. arboreum tomentosum, which has the same characteristic. The flowers open in clusters of bells, between 10 and 14 in number. Since it is a February bloomer, the cooler weather

giving great pleasure to the gardener

and has a soft and fluffy appearance

Here is a plant that is well suited to the rock garden

blooming mid to late May

The foliage is dark-green and shiny

In shade the summer color can be more green

*Hardy to zone 9 and 10

giving them great depth

the tree will have light golden-green new growth that later turns to bright gold in summer

as it is one of the easiest rhododendrons to grow

and will eventually grow to 4 ft

This cultivar was named in honor of Hazel Smith