Rhododendrons: Rhodo tree - additional photos and info

Discussion in 'Ericaceae (rhododendrons, arbutus, etc.)' started by michelled, Dec 5, 2007.

  1. michelled

    michelled Active Member

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    Hello:

    I am trying to identify (or at least narrow down) the rhododendron flower seen below. It is on an evergreen tree, about 10 - 12 feet high, the leaves are oblong and flat, arranged in a circular pattern around the flowers; the flowers are large -- roughly 6 to 8 inches in diameter -- pink on the underside, white inside with pink spots, with white to cream colored stamens. Any help would be hugely appreciated.

    Michelle

    Here are additional photos as per respondents' requests (taken today). The flowers were photographed on May 25th; the leaves run anywhere up to around 9" in length.
     

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  2. chimera

    chimera Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Your photos and description should help a lot and do seem to match descriptions of a mature 'Lem's Monarch', so would think it's a good possibility. Maybe other members are growing the plant pictured, will comment, be certain or have some ideas. Could be the plant is struggling with the Thuja plicata {red cedar} roots.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2007
  3. chimera

    chimera Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    'Point Defiance', another of the Walloper group, shares some similarities and may be worth keeping in mind, also.
     
  4. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Flower shape and foliage characteristics look right for one of the Wallopers. These were being circulated here at least by the 1970s, when I was in the local rhododendron society - there has been plenty of time for one to grow 10'-12' tall.
     
  5. michelled

    michelled Active Member

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    Ron and Chimera:

    I found this on the web. I recall someone saying that the leaves were not consistent with Lem's Monarch, and yet the following claims Lem's Monarch and Pink Walloper are the same. Is this correct? The photos on the web page look very similar to mine, so I hope it's correct....

    " 'Pink Walloper' became part of a series of giant-flowering cultivars often called "the walloper group'" (Rhododendron x griffithianum ) including 'Red Walloper,' 'Point Defiance,' & 'Gwen Bell.'

    For years 'Lem's Monarch' (introduced in 1971, two years after Halfdan's death, & over a decade after 'Pink Walloper' was blooming in Halfdan's field) was considered yet another cultivar, or perhaps a sister-seedling for this group. But 'Pink Walloper' & 'Lem's Monarch' are today regarded as interchangeable names for a single clone.

    It originated as a across between pink-flowering 'Anna' (named for Halfdan's wife) & red-flowering 'Marinus Koster' (named for its hybridizer from the generation preceding Halfdan's)."

    Any thoughts?
    Michelle
     
  6. chimera

    chimera Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Yes, understand there is some controversy over whether 'Lem's Monarch' and 'Pink Walloper' are synonymous. Apparently unnamed hybrids of the same group were distributed also. Don't know how consistent the leaves of a mature LM are, some pictured are wavy, and 'Point Defiance' leaves even more wavy and the base of leaves may be rounded. Would expect growing conditions and location grown can cause some variability with the same hybrid. Pic shown is a young LM , believe it's labeled correctly, growing in full sun.
     

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    Last edited: Dec 14, 2007
  7. Chris Klapwijk

    Chris Klapwijk Active Member 10 Years

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    The parentage of the 'Walloper' group of hybrids ('Walloper', 'Arnold Piper', 'Lem's Monarch', 'Pink Walloper', 'Point Defiance', 'Red Walloper') is usually given as R. 'Anna' x R. 'Marinus Koster'.
    Although there is some doubt about true parentage, noted rhododendron authority Harold Greer believes it to be correct and lists 'Pink Walloper' as synonymous with 'Lem's Monarch'.
    The parentage of R. 'Gwen Bell' is R. 'Walloper' x unkown red hybrid.
     
  8. chimera

    chimera Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Actually, Gwen Bell {Seattle Rhodo Chapter member } may be quite familiar with these Lem hybrids.
     
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2007

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