I transplanted this rhodo, purchased from a nursery, about 1 1/2 years ago. It has lots of new foliage,looks very healthy, seems to be planted in a suitable area but has yet to have any flowers. Can you suggest a reason. Does it have to be a certain age before it will bloom? Thank you for any suggestions.
Hi Katiespin, Many of the species Rhodo's do have to be of a certain age. Some not flowering until they are 8-10 years. Depending on the age (size) when you purchased it may determine how long it will be until it sets bloom for you. I planted many species rhodo's between 1995 - 1998 and I have had blooms on all now. Three bloomed for the first time this year. The larger leaved species of ours where the last ones to bloom. If given the right conditions (water, fertilizer, etc.) your rhodo should do well. You may have to be patient for blooms? I do not have the R. macrophyllum, so I cannot speak on its performance.
This may explain why my metre-tall R. cinnabarinum 'royalii' (2 of them) have not yet bloomed. I have had them for four years and they seem healthy (aside from a setback in the cold winter of '08-'09) but I keep waiting for flowers! thanks keke
'Roylei' is a selection presumably raised from cuttings, if it does not come true from seed and yours are seedlings then you may not get the characteristics of the selection. Perhaps yours are instead in too much shade to flower readily. Although it seems it would take a lot of shade to keep a flowering size rhododendron completely barren.
No, these were cuttings, open grown, and bought (one as a spare if the other died) at about 18-20" tall. Based on the recommendation of the grower, I have them in my most sheltered half-sun spot, and keep them as well-watered as I can during hot spells -- not many of those lately, though :-) . They get rhodo food once a year, again per the grower, who cautioned me not to over-fertilize them. They do grow very slowly, I've noticed! keke
So they have the sexual maturity of the clone, with time it takes seedling plants to become sexually mature not relevant to your situation. Maybe ask the supplier, if they are a specialist who grows the plant in a garden setting themselves (and are still available to you) why this selection might remain flowerless at 1m high.
Unfortunately the grower is no longer available -- Larkhaven. So I guess I will just enjoy their foliage and see what happens! keke
We have R. Cinnabarinum 'Royelii'. When we purchased it, it was about 41/2' tall and it bloomed the second year that we had it (1999), and it usually blooms every year. We have it in a filtered light situation. I was told to make sure that we had it with good air circulation as they are prone to mildew. It has had some on it, but never enough to cause any permanent harm. Quite beautiful and interesting foliage.
