Rhododendron Easydendron Rabatz Inkarho

The Rhododendron Easydendron Rabatz Inkarho is a hybrid variety that unfurls its dark buds into delicate flowers with frilly and wavy edges, widely displayed, in intense and pure red colour, speckled with black-red on the upper part of the petals. It belongs to the Inkharo range which includes hybrids more tolerant to limestone and clay in the soil. Highly hardy and semi-early, it forms a rather spreading bush, wider than tall, with dark green evergreen leaves. This selection was shortlisted for the plant of the year in 2011 at the Chelsea Flower Show. In a large bed, in a hedge or at the edge of trees, Rabatz can do without acid soil and be planted in more varied soils, even slightly limestone-rich or heavy.

Rhododendrons are plants from the ericaceae family, just like heathers. The history of Inkharo Rhododendrons, somewhat revolutionary plants, started in Germany over 20 years ago. The discovery of a rhododendron naturally growing in a chalk quarry led to the grafting of different varieties onto its extraordinary root system. The shrubs obtained by this method tolerate a wide range of soils with a pH ranging from 4.5 to 7.5, provided they are loose, fertile, moist, and not excessively limestone-rich. In summary, a soil suitable for hydrangeas. The Rabatz cultivar forms a large branched bush with a dense habit, reaching around 1.40 m in height at 10 years old and 1.80 m in spread, in good growing conditions, in open ground. Its growth is rather slow. Its large leaves are elliptical, dark green and glossy on the upper side, showing a lighter and fuzzy underside. They persist through winter. Around mid-May, for approximately 3 weeks, large funnel-shaped, 10 to 11 cm diameter flowers unfurl at the end of branches in large clusters or spherical corymbs, composed of frilly-edged petals. The flower's centre is speckled with dark red, almost black, and adorned with long light stamens. The petals are pure red.

Rhododendron Rabatz is a very hardy plant, down to -22°C. It is relatively tolerant in terms of exposure, we recommend planting it in non-scorching sun or partial shade, ideally to the east where it benefits from morning sun while being protected from excessive heat. In the garden, with its abundant and delicate flowering, it easily decorates a shaded area, alongside Ferns, blue or variegated hostas, Pieris, shrubby Heathers, Kalmias, Azaleas, Japanese maples, or other rhododendrons from the same group to create superb patchworks of textures and colours. It is versatile and you can also plant it alongside many other flowering shrubs, not necessarily acid-loving: hydrangeas, mock oranges, Japanese quinces, butterfly bushes, abelias, or autumn camellias. Japanese Anemones will also be good companions, as well as bugbanes and foxgloves, in the understory.