Rhododendron Saffron Queen
Rhododendron Saffron Queen
Rhododendron Saffron Queen
Rhododendron Saffron Queen
Rhododendron
A very bad experience: the young plant arrived well watered, but it was evident that it had suffered from a lack of water and neglect: leaden, sparse foliage, a few rare sickly flower buds... As it was then the last available specimen, I planted it and cared for it following Promesses de fleurs' advice to the letter, but despite my efforts, the young plant perished. This is not the first time I have had this kind of experience at the end of availability. I won't be fooled again.
Isabelle, 15/06/2020
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Description
Rhododendron 'Saffron Queen', which naturally forms a small bush with a slightly spreading habit, displays beautiful sulfur yellow flowering in spring, touched with darker spots on the reverse side of the petals, truly radiant in partially shaded areas of the garden or terrace. Clothed in dark green evergreen foliage, the bush is decorative all year round. This slightly cold-sensitive variety is grown in the ground in oceanic climates. Elsewhere, plant it in a large pot that will spend the entire summer on the terrace or balcony. Like most Rhododendrons, this plant requires acidic, moist but well-drained soil rich in humus.
Rhododendrons are plants in the heath family, just like heathers, and prefer soils devoid of limestone, with an acidic tendency, and humid climates. The 'Saffron Queen' variety is an English horticultural hybrid dating back to 1948. It was obtained through the cross-breeding of the botanical species Rhododendron xanthostephanum, of Chinese and Burmese origin, and R. burmanicum, native to Burma. All three are fairly cold-sensitive plants, with beautiful mahogany-coloured barks, which bear yellow flowers in spring and evergreen leaves in winter. It should be noted that to this day, all descendants of the Rhododendron burmanicum created through hybridization are susceptible to severe frosts.
'Saffron Queen' slowly forms a rounded bush, 90cm (35in) tall and wide at the age of 10. Under good growing conditions, a mature plant reaches 1.20m (4ft) in all directions. Its leathery, elongated, lanceolate leaves, measuring up to 8.5cm (3in) long, are dark green and glossy on the upper side. They have a pronounced central vein. During the months of April and May, it will bloom in loose corymbs or clusters of 8 to 9 funnel-shaped flowers. Each flower, 6.3cm (3in) in diameter, is composed of light yellow petals, with darker dorsal lobes. The throat of the flower, which houses long stamens with brown anthers, has a deeper yellow hue. The flowering is not fragrant.
The Rhododendron 'Saffron Queen' is a beautiful plant for a garden with a mild oceanic climate. It will look stunning in the middle of a bed, in a shaded rockery, or as a standalone specimen. It will enhance the garden all year round and enliven it in spring with its refined and radiant flowering. Place it, for example, on a slope or in a rockery, alongside Ferns, Pieris, Heathers, Kalmias, or even Azaleas and Japanese Maples that appreciate the same environments. It can be grown in a container, provided it is provided with an acidic and well-drained substrate, special fertilizer for ericaceous plants, and regular watering with non-limestone water. This cultivation method allows it to be protected from cold during winter.
Rhododendron Saffron Queen in pictures
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Botanical data
Rhododendron
Saffron Queen
Ericaceae
Rhododendron
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
Plant Rhododendron 'Saffron Queen' in a partially shaded or sunny location, protected from cold and drying winds, in a moist, humus-bearing and light soil, with a tendency towards acidity. Like all plants that prefer acidic soil, it cannot tolerate chalky or heavy soils that become waterlogged in winter. Its cold resistance is limited, and it will perish below -10°C (14°F) (some sources mention -7°C (19.4°F)). Dig a hole with a volume three times larger than the pot. Soak the root ball in non-alkaline water and plant the bush at the neck level, in a mixture composed of leaf compost, gravel or pumice, and loam. Water generously and keep the soil moist in summer. Azaleas and Rhododendrons have a shallow root system. As a result, they are sensitive to long periods of drought. Therefore, it is advisable to enrich the soil with humus and water abundantly during dry periods. Additionally, their root system is not very strong, which is why it is essential to lighten heavy soils with draining materials (gravel, pumice, clay pebbles) at planting. Apply a mulch of shredded pine bark around the base of the bush every spring to maintain soil moisture and acidity. Maintenance consists of removing faded flowers in summer and pruning dead branches. Azaleas and Rhododendrons can sometimes be attacked by weevils, which eat the edges of leaves and rootlets, as well as by the famous "rhododendron beetle," which rarely causes significant damage. Yellowing of the leaves (chlorosis) in Rhododendrons indicates poor iron assimilation from the soil and can lead to premature death of the plant. While limestone is often the cause, poorly drained soil or a deeply planted root ball can also explain the phenomenon.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, etc.)
It will vary according to where you live:- In zones 9 to 10 (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), flowering will occur about 2 to 4 weeks earlier.
- In zones 6 to 7 (Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and lower mountainous regions), flowering will be delayed by 2 to 3 weeks.
- In zone 5 (Central Europe, Scandinavia), blooming will be delayed by 3 to 5 weeks.
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands).
It will vary according to where you live:
- In Mediterranean zones (Marseille, Madrid, Milan, etc.), autumn and winter are the best planting periods.
- In continental zones (Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, etc.), delay planting by 2 to 3 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 2 to 4 weeks in autumn.
- In mountainous regions (the Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians, etc.), it is best to plant in late spring (May-June) or late summer (August-September).
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
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