Rhododendron Hortulanus H Witte

Rhododendron (Mollis Group) ‘Hortulanus H. Witte’, often sold under the name Chinese Azalea ‘Hortulanus H. Witte’, offers beautiful orange and yellow trumpets with a delicate fragrance in spring, before or at the same time as the foliage appears. It is a reliable choice for partially shaded areas of the garden, acid soil beds, and cultivation in a large container. Its deciduous foliage takes on warm red hues in autumn.

Belonging to the Ericaceae family, this cultivar is part of the Mollis Azaleas, derived from old European cross-breeding. Common synonyms are Azalea mollis ‘Hortulanus H. Witte’ and Rhododendron ‘Hortulanus H. Witte’ (Mollis). It was bred by the Koster M. & Sons nursery in Boskoop (Netherlands) in 1892. Its parents are Rhododendron molle subsp. molle and R. molle subsp. japonicum. The name "Hortulanus" means "head gardener"; it most likely pays tribute to Heinrich (H.) Witte, a horticulturist who worked at the Hortus botanicus in Leiden in the 19th century.
The R. molle species (formerly Azalea sinensis) is native to eastern China and the japonicum subspecies to Japan; the hybrids in this group show good hardiness and early spring flowering.

This shrub is bushy, upright then spreading, with moderate growth. In the ground, ‘Hortulanus H. Witte’ reaches 1.50–2 m in all directions at maturity (about 1 m in a pot at 10 years). The deciduous leaves are ovate to elliptical, and they turn orange and red in autumn. The funnel-shaped flowers open in April-May and are gathered in short corymbs; each corolla, 5–6 cm in diameter, displays a golden orange colour with a darker spot. The flowering is lightly scented. This cultivar is hardy down to -20°C.
The Mollis line is emblematic of Belgian-Dutch selections from the 19th century; the Koster introductions marked European gardens with their yellow and orange tones, derived from the aforementioned Asian species.

Deciduous Chinese azaleas are easier to grow than Japanese azaleas, which are evergreen: they are very hardy, tolerating sunnier exposures and heat better. They will perform best in a cool climate, with distinct winters, planted in a humus-bearing and fertile, lime-free soil.
Plant Azalea Hortulanus H. Witte in a bed, place it in front of a large rhododendron, or on the edge of the bed with Japanese maples and Pieris. In a continental climate, position it in light woodland and water during dry periods. It will be superb in a large container on a terrace facing east or south-east. You can pair it with Chinese azaleas 'Demoiselles de Boutiguery Nella' or ‘Glowing Embers' to create an orange-yellow colour scheme. Add, for example, a dwarf Rhododendron ‘Percy Wiseman’ and a Pieris japonica ‘Forest Flame’ to extend the season of colour in the garden.