Rhododendron vireya Strawberry Parfait - Tropical Rhododendron

Rhododendron 'Strawberry Parfait' is a rare medium-sized bush of tropical origin which can still withstand light frosts. Its evergreen vegetation consists of superb dark green foliage with a glossy surface. This dark background perfectly highlights the vibrant flowering of clusters of trumpet-shaped, bright pink flowers with a yellow throat. The flowers bloom for several months, mainly in spring. This variety should be grown in a container, in a well-draining acidic substrate, to be overwintered frost-free. It grows in not too bright sun, and light shading from taller plants will benefit it.

Rhododendron is a member of the Ericaceae family, which includes about a hundred often very ornamental genera, such as Kalmia, or Mountain Laurel, Leucothoe, and the charming Enkianthus. There are about 850 species of Rhododendron, which results in botanical classification into subgenera, sections, and subsections. The Vireya section (named after a French pharmacist, Julien-Joseph Virey, 1775-1846) includes 300 tropical species from Southeast Asia (Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines...). They are often small and epiphytic (growing on trees, like many orchids in warm countries), while others are terrestrial, developing in the ground, like the hardy Rhododendrons we are more accustomed to.
'Strawberry Parfait' is a variety of Rhododendron armitii, a tropical species from the Vireya section (Solenovireya subsection), which in its natural habitat in Papua New Guinea forms a 2.50 m tall bush. It grows in mountainous areas at medium altitude (2400 to 2700 m), producing clusters of 5 to 7 white tubular flowers with a pink throat and fragrance. 'Strawberry Parfait' forms, under optimal conditions, a 2 m tall bush by 1.50 m wide. In our climates, it will be slightly smaller, which is actually an advantage for easy container gardening. It has elliptical leaves with pointed tips, measuring up to 7-8 cm long and 4-5 cm wide. This foliage is very dark green, and the surface of the leaf blades is glossy, giving the plant a constant ornamental appeal as it is evergreen.
The flowers are grouped in clusters of 5 to 7 units, at the ends of the branches. They have a trumpet shape, with the base formed by the fusion of the petals into a tube (the flowers are said to be gamopetalous, which is a characteristic of the Ericaceae family). Carried by floral peduncles about 2 cm long, they measure 5 to 6 cm long and the same width. The petals are not fused opposite the peduncle and open widely, exposing their beautiful pink colour, more or less vivid. The corolla's centre is yellow, as is the outer wall of the throat, creating a vibrant contrast. In our climates, flowering mainly occurs in spring, for a long duration, but this can vary, a remnant of the plant's tropical origins. In its native regions, flowering occurs for a good part of the year, with multiple flushes. Similarly, the intensity of the fragrance seems to vary among individuals.

Rhododendron 'Strawberry Parfait' should be grown in a container, as even though it can tolerate brief and mild frosts, it remains a tropical plant that appreciates warmth and humidity. This will allow you to provide it with a suitable acidic substrate even if your garden is not. Pair it with orangery plants to create an exotic decor. Cestrum nocturnum or Night-blooming Jasmine, will be a perfect companion. This shrub for mild climates, which you can also grow in a pot, is remarkable for its incredibly fragrant summer flowers. The Buddha's Hand (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis) is a Citrus tree with fruits recognisable among a thousand. Stretched out in multiple long yellow fingers, these fruits exert a real fascination with their strangeness. And to add an architectural and colourful note to your scene, go for Clianthus puniceus 'Flamingo', an evergreen shrub with curious salmon flowers that have earned it the nickname "lobster claw" due to their very particular morphology. Its highly dissected evergreen foliage is almost as ornamental as its atypical flowers.