Rhododendron Château de Josselin

Rhododendron ‘Château de Josselin’ is a large-flowered hybrid with evergreen foliage, flowering in late spring. It is a very hardy, well-branched shrub of medium stature, suitable for large acid soil beds, woodland edges and low hedges. It can also be grown in a large container to adorn a semi-shaded terrace. It is named for the famous Breton castle, whose park is home to a rich collection of azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and hydrangeas.

Belonging to the Ericaceae family, Rhododendron ‘Château de Josselin’ is also sold under the name Rhododendron ‘Château-Josselin’. Its name refers to the Château de Josselin, located in Morbihan, whose gardens are home to numerous species and varieties of rhododendrons; this cultivar was obtained in the early 2000s.
Its habit is bushy, dense, and slightly upright. In open ground, it reaches between 1.50 and 2 m in height and 1.50 m in width; one can expect about 1.20–1.50 m in height by 10 years, depending on the soil and climate. In a container, it does not exceed 1 m to 1.20 m. Rhododendrons have a superficial and shallow root system that spreads on the surface. The evergreen foliage is medium green, formed of leathery, elliptical leaves.
Flowering occurs from May to June; the terminal inflorescences, at the end of the branch, bear funnel-shaped corollas. They are orange-pink to salmon with darker pits. This variety is hardy down to –20 °C.

Plant this beautiful Rhododendron 'Château de Josselin' in acidic soil (pH 4.5 to 6), rich in humus, moist, but well-drained, in partial shade or at the foot of deciduous trees. In a bed, associate it with fine foliage or complementary flowerings: Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Red Bells’ for its late spring and autumn colour, Kalmia latifolia ‘Olympic Fire’ for its decorative buds, Fothergilla × intermedia ‘Mount Airy’ for its spring fragrance and autumn hue, and Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’ for its beautiful blue flowers in summer.