Rhododendron Tortoiseshell Orange

Rhododendron 'Tortoiseshell Orange' is an ancient English hybrid with a unique personality. Aside from its flowering, it is instantly recognizable by its beautiful evergreen foliage. The particularly narrow and elongated leaves are a very dark green. At the end of May, it stands out with its gently flamboyant flowering: its large flowers, borne in loose clusters full of charm, evolve from pale yellow to orange-red, with shades of pink and salmon. With its moderate growth and attractive character all year round, this Rhododendron is one of the most original! Plant it in an ericaceous bed or a large container, in partial shade or dappled sunlight.

Rhododendrons are plants from the heather family, preferring predominantly lime-free, acidic soils and humid climates. 'Tortoiseshell Orange', obtained in England in 1947, is a cross between the variety 'Goldsworth Orange' and the botanic species Rhododendron griersonianum.

'Tortoiseshell Orange', with its fairly slow growth, naturally forms a rounded and upright bush measuring 1.2 meters (4 feet) in height and 1 meter (3 feet) in width at 10 years old. The shrub shows a fairly regular, rounded, and compact silhouette. Its evergreen leaves, a very dark green with a slightly bluish hue and a satin finish, are closely lanceolate in shape and provide good coverage. The flowering of this variety is quite late, typically starting at the end of May. Clustered in loose groups of 5 to 12 at the ends of the branches, beautiful large flowers with slightly undulate edges bloom. The color ranges from pale yellow to soft orange-red, with various shades of warm pink, and the center of the flowers is more orange.

The 'Tortoiseshell Orange' Rhododendron is an attractive, hardy down to -15°C (5°F), and easy to grow shrub as long as the conditions suit it, in terms of exposure, soil, and climate. "Rhodos" are as exclusive as they are ornamental shrubs that thrive admirably in temperate climates in acidic soil. When they have a modest stature like 'Tortoiseshell Orange', they allow you to beautifully adorn a small semi-shaded space in the garden, as well as the terrace or balcony. For example, it can be planted alongside camellias, azaleas, deciduous magnolias, and pieris, which appreciate the same growing conditions and complement their spring flowering. Japanese maples bring lightness to their sometimes massive silhouettes. Hydrangeas, on the other hand, make good companions for summer and autumn. Spring or summer flowering bulbs (tulips, oriental lilies), as well as ferns, heucheras, and hostas, will occupy the foreground of large ericaceous bed plantings. Container cultivation requires regular watering with non-lime water and specific fertilizer for ericaceous plants. Large Rhododendrons, on the other hand, are absolutely stunning in a hedge.