Rhododendron Naselle

Rhododendron 'Naselle' doesn't go unnoticed in the heart of spring, covered with clusters of large frizzy flowers, superbly bicoloured, combining coral pink and tender yellow. This hybrid variety forms a bush of modest size but very floriferous, with beautiful evergreen foliage, perfect for decorating a terrace or a heather bed, always in partial shade. It is a very hardy specimen, with a mid-early flowering period. 'Rhodos', as spectacular as they are exclusive, only thrive in acidic, rich, fresh but well-drained soil and under humid climates.

Rhododendrons are plants from the ericaceae family, just like heathers, preferring mostly soils devoid of limestone, with an acidic tendency, and humid climates. The Naselle cultivar forms a bush with a generally rounded habit, reaching approximately 1.20m (4ft) in height and 1m (3ft) in width at the age of 10 years, under good cultivation conditions, in open ground. Its growth is rather slow. Its large leaves are elliptical in shape, dark green and glossy on the upper side, showing a lighter and fuzzy underside. They persist in winter. Around mid-May, for about 3 weeks, large clusters or rounded corymbs with up to 15 flower buds bloom at the end of the branches. They open into large funnel-shaped flowers, 10 to 11cm (4in) in diameter, with undulated petals at the edges. The centre of the flower, almost red in colour, is equipped with long golden stamens. The petals are a gradient from bright coral pink to maize yellow and then cream yellow, from the periphery to the centre.

The Rhododendron 'Naselle' is a floriferous and hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to -15°C (5°F) or even -20°C (1°F). Even though they prefer a partially shaded exposure, hybrid Rhododendrons can withstand the morning sun as long as it's not scorching and their roots remain moist. "Naselle", with its brilliant and generous flowering, will easily dress up a partially shaded space in the garden, alongside ferns, hostas, Pieris, heathers, Japanese Azaleas, or other rhododendrons from the same group to create superb patchworks of textures and colours in spring. Growing in pots is possible, but it requires slightly more frequent watering with non-limestone water and regular applications of specific fertilizers for ericaceous plants.