Canadian source for Plumleaf Azalea

16 years ago

I've been trying to find a Canadian source for Rhododendron prunifolium without any success. I live in southern Ontario, USDA zone 5, so it may be borderline here, but I'd still like to try growing it. Would anyone on this forum know of a Canadian source - either a commercial nursery or a private gardener who might be willing to part with some seeds or cuttings - for this plant?

Comments (4)

jeff_al
16 years ago
have you posted on the canadian gardening forum? there is also a canadaian exchange forum.
it is reported hardy to zone 5 but "performs better further south".
they are not cheap here, probably because they are slow growing - normally $10+ for a one-gallon container with plants less than a foot tall.
i see them at a local azalea and camellia sale each year in my area, usually in early march.
what is the policy on shipping these plants internationally? can you order from one of our southern u.s. nurseries or are you thinking provenance for hardiness?

Here is a link that might be useful: canadian gardening
barb_from_london
Original Author
16 years ago
Plants can be shipped internationally but they then require a phytosanitary certificate which is about $75 US, so it really is prohibitively expensive for home gardeners to order internationally. As far as I know, seeds can be shipped internationally without any problem - at least I've never had to pay anything other than for the seeds themselves! Provenance, though, is an important consideration, as I would need a clone that performs well in the northern limits of its range, rather than one which performs best in Georgia... I have the name of someone in Ontario who grows it in their garden, so if I get up my courage to call him and ask him for seeds or cuttings, I should have the basis of a good northern hardy clone (if he gives me seeds or cuttings of course). Otherwise I think my best bet will be to try and get seeds from local exchanges like the Ontario Rock Garden Society (which does a lot of woodies as well as alpines) or a specialist seed exchange like the Atlantic Rhododendron Society's.
So those are my plans...I hope something comes through!
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sewobsessed
16 years ago
Barb,
Have you tried The Willow Garden? They specialize in growing Azalea and rhododendron. They will send you free seed.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Willow Garden
davidl_ny5
16 years ago
It may take a long time if you raise them from seed, or even from a young plant. I think I've got some I raised from seed that are 5 years old (maybe more) and just setting their first flower buds. They might have done better in a warmer, sunnier spot than they're in, but they're not fast in any event. I can hardly wait 'til they bloom next year. I think you're at the North end of their range, but if you take care of them while they're young, they should survive.