Rhododendron Princess Anne

Rhododendron 'Princess Anne' is a variety that naturally forms a compact bush with a spreading habit. It displays beautiful light yellow flowers in spring, slightly tinged with green, truly luminous. Clothed in evergreen foliage that is a matte light green, bronze at bud break, the bush is decorative all year round. Like most Rhododendrons, this plant requires an acidic, moist but well-drained soil rich in humus. It is an excellent variety, hardy and awarded by the RHS in England, perfect for easily decorating a small shaded space in the garden or on the terrace.

Rhododendrons are plants from the ericaceae family, just like heathers, preferring soils devoid of limestone, with an acidic tendency, and humid climates. The 'Princess Anne' variety is a horticultural hybrid that slowly forms a bush with a spreading habit, reaching about 80cm (32in) in height and 1.2m (4ft) in width depending on the growing conditions. Its tough, light green leaves are elongated and lanceolate in shape, with prominent central veins. The young foliage has a decorative reddish bronze colour. During April and May, it will flower in loose corymbs or clusters of funnel-shaped flowers. Each flower, measuring 3cm (1in) in diameter, has light yellow petals that shade towards green. The throat of the flower, which accommodates long stamens with brown anthers, has a deeper yellow tone. This flowering is not fragrant.

Rhododendron 'Princess Anne' is a magnificent bush, hardy down to -15°C (5°F) or even -20°C (1°F), and easy to grow as long as the conditions suit it, in terms of soil and climate. Although they prefer partial shade, hybrid Rhododendrons can tolerate the sun as long as it is not scorching and their base remains moist. 'Princess Anne', with its luminous flowering, will gently decorate a small partially shaded space in the garden, on the terrace, or balcony. Plant it alongside ferns, blue or variegated hostas, Pieris, heathers, Kalmias, Azaleas, and Japanese Maples, or other rhododendrons from the same group to create stunning patchworks of textures and colours in spring. Cultivating it in a container requires regular watering with non-chalky water and specific fertiliser for ericaceous plants.