Hi, I saw this at a show on the weekend...well, I saw the blossoms...and it was lovely. However, although this was a Maple Ridge area show, when I look up this cultivar, it says it is not hardy in our area? Well? Anybody got this one growing in a Lower Mainland garden? How is it doing? Regards, WesternWilson
Should be available from local retail outlets or growers, not uncommon. yak hybrid. Haven't heard of it being unhardy here, good plant. Was started, but apparently not hybridized, by a late Vancouver hybriizer.
"Quite different! The buds begin as a good solid red and open to flowers of an almost salmon-orange color which fades to creamy yellow toward the center. Add to this the beauty of a compact, rounded bush with indumented leaves and it's almost too good to be true. (R. Henny, Liningston, Lofthouse 1974)." --H.E. Greer, GREER'S GUIDEBOOK TO AVAILABLE RHODODENDRONS If Lofthouse named or introduced it 1974 that must have been about the time I saw him speak at a Seattle Rhododendron Society meeting. He began with an off-color joke. I still remember the resulting gasping, turning of heads and clucking of tongues. I also remember that some of his pictures showed spectacular hybrids.
R. 'Canadian Sunset' is a Jack Lofthouse hybrid known to survive -19° C in our experience. It is a cross between R. yakushimanum and R. 'Gypsy King', the same cross having been made by different people: R. 'Gypsy Rover', R. Drayson, registered 1987 R. 'Gypsy Princess', R. Drayson, registered 1986 R. 'Mayspark', R. Drayson, registered 1987 R. 'Mischief', R. Drayson R. 'Whistle Punk', H. Larson, introduced by Clint Smith R. 'Wistful', R. Drayson, registered 1987 R. 'Yakushi Maiden', R. Drayson, registered 1987 We have this available occasionally.
I used "Rhododendron Hybrids", Second Edition, Salley and Greer, Timber Press 1992 for reference. I've asked the official ARS registrar for confirmation.
Yes, they should know, thank you. Can't remember where the reference came from. Possible C. Smith may remember . A nice compact plant. Jack Lofthouse struck me as being quite conscious of time in regards to methods used to speed up growth of his hybrids to flowering and collecting clocks.
The 2 names don't ring a bell, maybe Larson. Seems it was somebody down your way, with a name beginning with a L or H. Failing memory, sometimes i stop to think and forget to start again.
Yes, now see ARS site www.rhododendron.org/descriptionH_new.asp?ID=1235 does list Henny as the hybridizer. Looking at the link, it appears it may have been updated at some time. Seems to do well in sun, which seems to keep it compact and floriferous here.
Old thread I think I have a Cdn sunset and I cannot find photo of UNDERSIDE of leaf I am trying to ID this plant I forget the term for fuzzy underside of leaf does anyone here have photo of their Cdn sunset top and underside ? plus it’s a great song … out on the ski trail (as the lyrics go ) thank you!
