Rhododendron 'Rosamundi'
Common name:
Rosamundi Rhododendron
Pronunciation:
rho-do-DEN-dron
Family:
Ericaceae
Synonyms:
Rosa Mundi
Type:
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon:
No
- Broadleaf evergreen shrub, slow growing, medium size, compact, 4 ft in 10 years, mounded form, very light pink flowers in profusion on ball-like trusses (clusters) starting very early in the season; bloom period Jan. to mid-April (caucasicum hybrid). Leaves elliptic to oblanceolate, 7-13 cm long, dark green above, light green to brownish below.
- -5°F, very early-early, quality rating: 2/3-4/3-4 [flower / plant & foliage / performance; scale 1 (poor) - 5 (best)]. Partial shade.
- Developed in the 1800. Harold Greer (Greer, 1996, p. 186) states that there is "much confusion about this rhododendron". The flower color of ‘Rosamundi’ is described as darker than that of ‘Christmas Cheer’, with which it is often confused. However, the plant most commonly in cultivation as 'Rosamundi' has very light pink flowers and begins to flower about a week after 'Christmas Cheer'. Both cultivars are the results of a cross between R. caucasicum and an unknown.
- Oregon State Univ. campus: northeast corner of Memorial Union Quad.
Click image to enlarge
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plant habit, flowering
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plant habit, flowering
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emerging flower cluster
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flower cluster
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flower cluster and leaves
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new and old flower clusters
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leaves
