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Rhododendron valaspis - how to tell if it's dead

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Posted by klew Z7b/8 NE PDX O (My Page) on
Mon, Apr 18, 11 at 16:35

My beloved valaspis (http://www.hirsutum.info/rhododendron/hybrids/detail.php?id=7016) was hit hard this year by a couple of late freezes. It's an early bird, usually blooming and putting on foliage in Feb.

All the buds are dead, most of the leaves are gone and the few that are left are either brown or a slowly browning green.

This is one of my favorite plants. Please tell me there still may be hope (but don't lie).

Thanks.

klew

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RE: Rhododendron valaspis - how to tell if it's dead

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Scratch bark. Underneath green, good. Brown, bad.

Dan

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RE: Rhododendron valaspis - how to tell if it's dead

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  • Posted by bboy USDA 8 Sunset 5 WA (My Page) on
    Mon, Apr 18, 11 at 22:03

Said to be hardy to 10 degrees F. Despite all those who insist otherwise plants only hardy to the double digits are not able to persist without incident on most sites in this region. Sooner or later what you had happen, happens. That is your basic problem. If it sprouts later consider growing it as a container specimen, that you can put under cover during the worst cold.

When I was active in the rhododendron society here kinds hardy to 10 degrees were referred to as "tender" and "California specials". This past winter the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, south of Seattle got down around that temperature - and it shows among whole sets of certain affiliations, like most of the big-leaved Falconera and Grandia types.

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RE: Rhododendron valaspis - how to tell if it's dead

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  • Posted by botann z8 SEof Seattle (My Page) on
    Wed, Apr 20, 11 at 14:01

I had some for a few years. They eventually froze out.
Mike

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