Rhododendron Splendor

Day 227: During the first few years of its life, my poor rhododendron had a ruminant problem. The elk and deer would nip off the flower buds during the winter when other browse was scarce. Strangely, they never seemed to bother the ancient rhody in my neighbour's yard, and now, for the last four or five years, they've left mine alone. In any event, it's still not very tall, but it's my personal opinion that you're not a true Washingtonian if you don't have at least one rhododendron in your yard. It's our state flower (the pink/white Pacific Rhododendron, anyway). In fact, there are several species of rhododendron here, although unless you are familiar with them, you would probably think they belonged in a different genus because they look very little like the garden plant. Some never get above knee-height, and one has bell-shaped flowers and small leaves which gave rise to its common name of False Huckleberry. Still, it is the vigorous and showy shrub which can attain heights up to 20 feet which Washingtonians know best, and whether native or cultivated, spring finds our yards and lowland forests massed with rhododendron splendor.

Obligatory Rhododendron

Day 247: When you are a homeowner in western Washington, it is almost obligatory that you plant a rhododendron in your yard. After all, the shrub is our state flower. The large-flowered native variety R. macrophyllum carries masses of pinkish-white blooms resembling those of the commercial cultivars, but most people are unaware that there are species with smaller white or cream flowers, and even one known as "False Huckleberry" which has small bell-shaped blossoms. In all, there are six native Rhododendrons, only one of which looks like the ones you see in peoples' yards. That said, the commercial plants do very well here, growing quickly into large bushes, at least in areas where the deer and elk don't keep them pruned back. This is the first year since I planted mine that Bambi has allowed it to bloom.

The Ubiquitous Rhododendron

Day 225: At this time of year, it may seem like every yard in western Washington has at least one rhododendron in it: lavender, purple, red, white, yellow, orange, any shade of pink imaginable. Most are maintained at heights of six to eight feet, but it's not uncommon to see an old, established plant 15 feet tall or more. There's no mystery to the rhododendron's popularity in our damp climate. It is evergreen, holding its leathery leaves throughout the winter. In its original pinkish-white form, it's native to the area. Admittedly, the showy colours are garden cultivars. No one plants the native. But walk through the lowlands of the western Olympic Peninsula, and you'll be surrounded by Rhododendron macrophyllum. Less showy is R. albiflorum, a bushy plant with leaves similar to but somewhat larger than those of blue huckleberry. True to its scientific name, its smaller, less abundant flowers are white or whitish-yellow. and are trumpet-shaped. You probably wouldn't recognize it as a rhody if you were unfamiliar with it. Oh, and by the way...if you say "rho-do-den-DRUM" in my presence, I will whop you upside the head with a stick.