Rhododendron Scintillation

Rhododendron 'Scintillation' is a highly appreciated hybrid for its massive, spectacular light pink spring flowering. It forms a rounded medium-sized bush that is suitable for gardens of all sizes, even for growing in containers on a balcony. Its large evergreen foliage, shiny dark green, offers an elegant contrast with its big pastel flowers and forms a green background all year round. Hardy and versatile, it is a plant that requires acidic, well-drained, humus-rich and moist soil, as well as partial shade exposure. It is the ideal plant for animating a shady area of undergrowth or creating an informal hedge with other rhododendrons with staggered flowering, both evergreen and blooming.

Rhododendrons are plants from the ericaceae family, just like heathers, preferring soils devoid of limestone, with an acidic tendency, and humid climates, especially when planted in full sun. 'Scintillation' is a recognized hybrid rhododendron for its beautiful light pink flowers spotted with reddish brown and has received the Award of Garden Merit and the award for the best rhododendron of the year in several regions of the United States. It naturally forms a compact bush with a rounded habit, reaching about 2m (7ft) in all directions. Its growth rate is moderate: it can grow up to 20cm (8in) per year. Its leaves, evergreen in winter, leathery, dark green with a slightly satin finish, are elliptical in shape and cover the plant well. They have a very fuzzy underside. The young shoots are a beautiful carmine red to purple. In April-May, remarkably abundant flowering submerges the bush: large corymbs of beautiful and large campanulate flowers, 6 to 7cm (2 to 3in) long, open. Their bright light pink colour with a maculated throat of reddish brown is highlighted by the shiny texture of the petals and the white tips of the stamens, like small jewels grouped at the heart of the flower.

Rhododendron 'Scintillation' is a shiny bush, very hardy down to -15°C (5°F), even -20°C, and easy to grow as long as the conditions are suitable, in terms of soil and climate. Even though they prefer partial shade exposure, hybrid rhododendrons with large flowers can tolerate the sun as long as it is not scorching and their roots remain cool. 'Scintillation', with its generous flowering, will skillfully dress up a small partially shaded area of the garden, terrace or balcony. Plant it together with ferns, blue or variegated hostas, Pieris, heathers, Kalmias, Japanese Maples, or other rhododendrons from the same group to create superb patchworks of textures and colours in spring. Growing in containers requires regular watering with non-limestone water and specific fertilizer for ericaceous plants.