Rhododendron Three Sisters

The Rhododendron hybrid 'Three Sisters' is an alliance of three excellent hybrid varieties grown in the same pot, forming a large bush. In spring, the plant is covered with large flowers that create a magnificent tricolour effect in shades of pinkish-purple, lilac mauve, and white. Vigorous and highly floriferous, the plant is adorned with abundant evergreen foliage that remains attractive throughout the year. It is a hardy, vigorous trio that is relatively easy to grow for a 'rhodo'. It will thrive in the ground or in a large container, in acidic, rich, moist, and well-drained soil.

Rhododendrons are plants from the Ericaceae family, like heathers. The selection called 'Three Sisters' is composed of 3 different varieties.

• Rhododendron (x) catawbiense 'Grandiflorum': a vigorous variety with relatively fast growth. It has generous flowering from late May to mid-June, with large spherical clusters of luxuriant flowers. The flower colour, a mauve punctuated with golden yellow and brown, is particularly vibrant in the shade.

• Rhododendron (x) catawbiense ‘Roseum Elegans’: a variety similar to the previous one, but slightly less vigorous. The flowers open as a pinkish-purple shade washed with fuchsia and speckled with red at the centre. Over time, they turn more mauve and reveal a throat speckled with bronze, occupied by long curved stamens of deep pink.

• Rhododendron hybrid 'Cunningham's White': a beautiful, vigorous, and very healthy plant, but more compact than the other two. This old Scottish variety, commonly used as a rootstock, offers remarkable flowering. Its beautiful white flowers, washed with pink on the edges and with a heavily streaked purple-brown throat, open in clusters of 20 cm. It is not uncommon to see a few flowers in September.

Together, these three rhododendrons form a large, densely branched bush with a dense habit, reaching approximately 3 m in all directions in good growing conditions and in the ground. In a container, its dimensions will be more modest. The Rhododendron has large elliptical leaves that are dark green and glossy on the upper side, and they remain persistent in winter. Around mid-May, for approximately three weeks, large spherical clusters or corymbs of flower buds bloom at the ends of the branches. They open into large funnel-shaped flowers with petals that are more or less undulate at the edges. The flower's centre is adorned with long stamens.

The Rhododendron 'Three Sisters' is a hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -15°C. Although they prefer partial shade, hybrid Rhododendrons can tolerate morning sun as long as it is not scorching and their roots remain cool. With its vigour and remarkable flowering, this trio will enhance a partially shaded area of the garden, alongside ferns, hostas, Pieris, Azaleas, or other rhododendrons from the same group, creating stunning patchworks of textures and colours in spring.