Rhododendron x yakushimanum Bernstein

Rhododendron 'Bernstein' is a hybrid that stands out for the colour of its spring flowering: its cream-coloured flowers are warmed by shades of yellow, even orange, and speckled with small brown to reddish spots in the throat. Of medium size, this beautiful shrub has a slightly spreading bushy habit and bears narrow evergreen foliage of a fairly light green, in harmony with the flowering. This perfectly hardy variety will thrive in damp and semi-shaded ericaceous soil, or even in denser shade.

Rhododendrons are plants of the family Ericaceae, just like heathers, preferring predominantly limestone-free soils, with an acidic tendency, and humid climates. Derived from a cross with a hybrid Rhododendron yakushimanum, the Rhododendron 'Bernstein' was introduced in Germany in 1965. It forms a dense, round-shaped, slightly spreading bush, averaging 1.75 m (6ft) in height and 2.20 m (7ft) in width at maturity. Its growth is rather slow, generally reaching 1 m (3ft) in height at the age of 10. Its evergreen leaves are of a fairly light green, elliptical in shape and cover the plant well. The underside is very velvety. In May, the remarkably abundant flowering submerges the bush: grouped in corymbs of 8 to 11 units, beautiful large flowers of 7 to 8 cm (3in), salmon-coloured to buff in buds, open in a palette of delicate tones, white-cream, pale amber yellow, orange, brown, dark red.

Like all yakushimanum hybrids, affectionately called 'rhodos yak' by specialists, Rhododendron 'Bernstein' is hardy down to -15°C (5°F).  Although they prefer a semi-shaded exposure, these hybrids can tolerate the morning sun as long as it is not scorching and their base remains damp. 'Bernstein', with its abundant and delicate flowering, will easily decorate a small shaded space in the garden, in the company of ferns, blue or variegated hostas, Pieris, heathers, Kalmias, Azaleas and Japanese Maples, or other rhododendrons from the same group to create superb patchworks of textures and colours in spring. Cultivation in containers requires regular watering with non-calcareous water and specific fertilizers for ericaceous plants.