Rhododendron Nova Zembla is one of the most popular flowering shrubs among landscape designers. Any garden in which a flower garden is created with this plant begins to play with bright colors. Another plus of this particular rhododendron variety is winter hardiness, which makes it a good choice for cold regions.
History of a Rhododendron Garden Plant
The name "rhododendron" comes from the Greek language and means "rosewood." The study and breeding of hybrid varieties of rhododendrons began in the XVII century. in England, but these shrubs became widespread in Europe two centuries later. Among the scientists who had a hand in the research of rosewood, D. Hooker, J. Forest are distinguished.
Rhododendron Nova Zembla
E. Regel introduced rhododendrons into pre-revolutionary Russia. But their popularity came only in recent times. This is due to the fact that Russian flower growers have only recently begun to seriously study and create conditions for the successful cultivation of this species.
For your information! In Japan, this plant is called the "tree of temptation", because some of its varieties secrete a special substance - andromedotoxin. Inhaling the aroma of such a flower, a person begins to feel a slight intoxication.
Plant description
This plant, belonging to the Heather family, has more than 600 different species. Among them you can find evergreen, semi- and deciduous shrubs, dwarf trees. Each species has a beautiful flowering.
Rhododendron Nova Zembla is an evergreen shrub. Variety Description:
- the height of an adult plant is from 1.5 to 2.5 m;
- elliptical leaves of a dark green color with a smooth shiny surface;
- has a superficial root system, a powerful trunk with sprawling branches;
- in each spherical inflorescence, up to 15-17 flowers of bright red or purple color bloom, in the inner part the petals are darker. Flowers do not exude aroma;
- Inflorescence blooming period is the beginning of May and June.
Bright red flowers of this variety are combined with emerald leaves.
The Dutch breeder A. Costner was also involved in breeding rhododendrons. The hybrid Nova Zembla variety was obtained by crossing the Parsons Grandiflorum variety and one of the Katevba shrubs.
What is the difference from the rest of the species
The peculiarity of this variety is that it grows rapidly. In winter, those shoots that are crushed by snow survive, and the outer ones die from frost. Because of this, bushes in mid-latitudes do not grow in height, but grow in breadth.
Note! The variety Nova Zembla withstands frosts down to −30 ° C, flowers begin to die out only at −26 ° C. With proper care, the shrub can bloom repeatedly for the season in early autumn.
Use in landscape design
This heather tree has a rather sprawling domed crown. Therefore, rhododendron should be planted where there is a lot of free space.
This variety will look great against the wall of the building to fill the space with bright accents, framed by a pond or near a gazebo. In large gardens, bright scarlet shrubs are planted along the paths, combining Nova Zembla with flowers that open in another period.
A spacious mowed lawn can be the backdrop for the rhododendron.
You can combine rhododendrons with conifers, which will harmonize not only externally with these bright bushes, but also give them the necessary shadow.
Soil Requirements for Nova Zembla Rhododendron
The soil for this kind of rhododendron should be light, well-drained and sufficiently acidic. To make the mixture yourself, you need to take:
- 3 parts of sheet land;
- 2 parts of peat;
- 1 part coniferous litter.
In each landing pit, you need to add 50-100 g of complex mineral fertilizer.
For your information! To increase the acidity of the soil, you can dilute a couple of teaspoons of crystalline citric acid in a bucket of water, and then pour the solution into the place of planting.
Outdoor landing
The rhododendron landing site should be calm and shaded. The site beyond the northern wall of the house is perfect, where not as much light penetrates as other flowering crops require.
Rhododendron Nova Zembla is best planted in the spring before the flowering period begins. In this case, you will have to sacrifice the first flowers on the seedling to give it the opportunity to let life juices grow and not bloom.
Disembarkation Process:
- A pit is dug about 50 cm deep and not less than 70 cm wide.
- A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of it (coniferous bark, pebbles, broken brick, etc.).
- Depending on the size of the varietal plant, the distance between the planting pits should be 70-200 cm.
- Plants are planted in pits, sprinkled with earth.
- The soil around the seedlings is mulched with a peat or coniferous layer of 5-10 cm.
Mulching the soil will help to maintain moisture in it, prevent weeds from growing around the seedling, and reduce the depth of soil freezing in the cold season.
Important! Experienced gardeners argue that it is important to choose the right weather for planting rhododendron. Cloudy weather for several days without rain and wind would be ideal.
Half the success of rhododendron cultivation depends on a good location
Evergreen Shrub Care
Caring for the rhododendron of the Nova Zembla cultivar consists in regularly moistening the soil around the plant, weeding the weeds, and applying fertilizing. 2-3 times a week, a rosewood should be watered, about 10 liters of water should go to each bush. The matte color of the leaves, the appearance of dark spots on them indicates insufficient soil moisture. An excellent solution would be to use automatic sprayers.
For wintering, it is better to cover young trees with lapnik, and the ground under them with burlap. Warming will be needed for 3-4 years after planting a seedling, until it finally takes root in a new place in a cold climate.
For your information! For cultivation in the northern regions, varieties of rhododendrons of Finnish breeding are excellent.
Feeding and trimming
Compost or complex mineral compounds are suitable as fertilizers, they should be applied 2-3 times during the spring months. To help rhododendron in recovery after flowering, you need to make phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
This type of rhododendron does not need to form a crown, since inflorescences form a neat dome. You can cut off those branches that do not look aesthetically pleasing in the landscape design of the garden or interfere with the passage. After winter, it is necessary to cut off dead branches.
Note! Lush flowering in rhododendrons occurs in a year. To improve the situation, faded flowers need to be cut in time, giving the plant strength to form new ones.
A bush without wilted flowers will look much more beautiful
Diseases and Pests
Most often, hybrid rhododendrons spoil such pests as bedbugs and spider mites. The first are located on the inside of the sheets, biting them. You can get rid of rhododendron bugs with the help of actar and phytoverms. The spider mite is treated in the classical way, that is, by processing with an actar.
Of the diseases, this type is most often affected by rust and leaf mosaic. An excellent remedy against them is confidor.
Rhododendrons are not so difficult to care for as it might seem at first glance. Half of the success lies in the right variety of hybrid, the second half - in a good place for its landing. Variety Nova Zemba will be a magnificent decoration of the garden, even in cold climates.
