Rhododendron vireya Oogappel - Tropical Rhododendron

Rhododendron 'Oogappel' is a rare tropical plant that forms an evergreen bush with beautiful dark green glossy foliage. It offers an extremely ornamental long-lasting winter flowering. Its trumpet-shaped flowers are salmon pink with a yellow throat, creating a stunning contrast against the dark foliage. Being tolerant to only light frosts, this variety should be grown in a container, in acidic soil, in a partially shaded location and brought indoors to protect it from frost in winter.

The Rhododendron is an important member of the Ericaceae family, which consists of numerous ornamental genera such as Japanese Andromeda (Pieris), Heathers, and the charming Gaultheria. There are approximately 850 species of Rhododendron, which has led to a complex botanical classification divided into subgenus, section, and subsection.The Vireya section (named after a French pharmacist, Julien-Joseph Virey, 1775-1846) includes no less than 300 tropical species, often epiphytic (growing on trees, like many orchids in warm countries), while others are terrestrial and grow in the ground, like the hardy Rhododendrons commonly found in our gardens.
'Oogappel' is a variety from this exotic section, whose name literally means "eyeball" in Dutch but is actually used to refer to a loved one, the apple of one's eye. It forms a semi-epiphytic bush, larger than other varieties of Vireya. Slow to moderate-growing, reaching 50 cm in height and width after 5 years of cultivation, it will mature to a height of 1.50 m with a similar spread. It is adorned with evergreen foliage, consisting of elliptical leaves with smooth edges, measuring approximately 10 cm long and 4 cm wide for the largest ones. Their dark green colour and semi-glossy surface provide a beautiful backdrop to showcase the light-coloured flowers. During the winter months, sometimes extending into spring, the bush produces clusters of 4 to 8 trumpet-shaped flowers. Comparatively larger than other Vireya varieties, they can measure up to 11 cm long and 8 cm in diameter. The petals are fused at the base (a characteristic of the Ericaceae family referred to as gamopetalous) and then open widely, forming a richly coloured corolla. The yellow throat transitions to a salmon pink on the rounded petals, while a cluster of 10 stamens with dark red terminal anthers emerges from the centre, creating a perfect harmony of hues.  

Rhododendron 'Oogappel', due to its tropical origin, is primarily intended to be grown in containers. Only gardens with a microclimate that is both humid and very mild in winter may potentially accommodate it in the ground. Growing it in a pot allows you to overcome climate and soil constraints by choosing acidic potting soil and overwintering your Rhododendron indoors to protect it from frost, allowing you to enjoy it in many regions. Pair it with other conservatory plants to create an exotic scene. The Four Seasons Lemon Tree (Citrus limon) will be a perfect companion, offering its decorative and useful yellow fruits for the kitchen at the same time as the Oogappel flowers. Treat yourself to Abutilon 'Pink Charm' with its tropical appearance, which will delight you with its long-lasting bell-shaped pink flowers from July to October. Other beauties easy-to-grow in a decorative pot, Agapanthus enchant the summer with their large umbels, which, depending on the variety, come in simply fabulous shades of blue or violet, or white for those who prefer simplicity.