Rhododendron 'ANASTASIA'

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.

Anastasia is a pink magnet among rhododendrons. It was bred and introduced by Hans Hachmann from Germany in 1998. It makes enormous inflorescence 19x15 cm, composed of neon pink, extra-large flowers (up to 10 cm across). The upper petal is decorated with a pale leopard pattern and the margins are gently frilled. Blooming begins in late May and continues for 2-3 weeks. Evergreen leaves are leathery, oval to broadly elliptic, dark green, and matte. The plant grows fast into a spreading shrub with flattened top, about 140 cm tall and 170 cm wide in 10 years.

For a better-looking plant deadhead where possible. The roots are shallow, spreading to sides in search for nutrients. Never plant them too deep. The soil must 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 leaf-mould. It is hardy to abt. -24°C (USDA zone 6) and may withstand a few degrees lower (more trials pending).

Last update 04-03-2020