Rhododendron 'CARUSO'

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.

Caruso rhododendron is a pink-flowering hybrid which, thanks to some yaku-blood in its veins, produces profusion of flowers on a compact plant. The flowers are large, borne in erect trusses, bright pink with delicate red stigma and slightly frilled margins. They appear from mid May for about two weeks and almost completely cover the plant. Evergreen leaves are leathery but thinner, partly wavy, broadly elliptic, dark green and not very glossy. The plant makes a compact, almost rounded shrub of almost the same height and width.

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. It is hardy to min. -24°C (USDA zone 6) but may take a few degrees lower.

Last update 31-01-2017