Rhododendron Boddaertianum

Rhododendron x Boddaertianum, sometimes marketed as 'Gloire d'Anvers', is an old hybrid that has been cultivated for a long time in gardens where it is appreciated for its beautiful early white flowering speckled with red. It is not uncommon for this variety to be in bloom in March-April, which has earned it its other name, the Easter Rhododendron. Vigorous and of good stature, it shows good resistance to heat and sun, a quality not so common in these plants. With its lush aspect that could almost be called exotic, this large rhododendron can create a superb screen at the back of flower beds or majestic evergreen hedges.

Rhododendrons are plants of the Ericaceae family, like heathers, preferring mostly limestone-free, acid soils and wet climates. Rhododendron 'Boddaertianum', despite its Latin-sounding name, is a hybrid obtained in Belgium in 1860. It is the result of cross-breeding between Rhododendron arboreum ssp arboreum, not very hardy, originating from the lower altitudes of the Himalayas, and R. campanulatum ssp campanulatum, native to the cold regions of the high mountains of Kashmir and Sikkim in India. It is characterised by better resistance to sun and heat and its stature.

'Boddaertianum' forms a large bush with a slightly upright rounded habit higher than wide. Its growth is relatively fast, reaching an average height of 3m (10ft) and a width of 2.5m (8ft) at the age of 10 in good conditions. The branches are abundantly covered with beautiful evergreen foliage of a dark matte green. The leaves are narrow and pointed elliptical. The abundant flowering usually takes place in April-May. The large funnel-shaped flowers are grouped in large spherical clusters, sometimes up to 20. The colour of the buds is soft pink, then they open to white with red speckles in the centre. This acid-loving shrub will find its place in partial shade in a damp, humus-rich, well-drained soil with an acidic pH. Rhododendron Boddaertianum is hardy in many regions of France, to -12/-15°C (10.4/5°F) for short periods, but its early flowering is susceptible to late frosts.

Rhododendron 'Boddaertianum' is certainly not the most cold-resistant, but its almost tree-like habit makes it one of the most spectacular, especially when it blooms with its large white flowers in early spring, ahead of most other varieties. It can be used as a specimen or in a mass planting, of course in the company of other acid-loving plants. It can be paired with narrow and conical conifers for contrast, Chinese azaleas, which complement and temper its warm tones, magnolias, andromedas (Pieris), mountain laurels (Kalmia), green or purple Japanese maples...