Rhododendron 'CIRCUS'

Rhododendrons are reliable, beautifully flowering, evergreen shrubs of variable origin: S.W. China, Himalayas, Northern America, and even Europe. The original species were hybridized several times for better performance so in the 1950´s there were more than 10,000 cultivars registered, and the number keeps increasing.

Circus is an American rhododendron variety bred by G.D.Grace in 1961, a cross between Fabia Group and Purple Splendour. It offers a unique mixture of warm colours – softer salmon pink and amber orange petals with richer pink margins, and orange blotch. Evergreen leaves are leathery, very dark green, narrowly elliptic and glossy. It is a midseason variety blooming in 2nd and 3rd decade of May. Its habit is quite compact, wider than tall, growing almost a meter tall and a bit wider in 10 years.

For a better looking plant dead-head where possible. The roots are shallow, spreading to sides in search for nutrients. Never plant them too deep. The soil has to be acidic (pH 4.5-5.5), rich in humus, cool and always moist. Ideal soil mixture is peat with lime-free, light garden soil topped with leave-mould. Hardy to approx. -23°C (USDA zone 6) but it is expected to take stronger frost.

Last update 12-09-2014