Description
This North American evergreen is home to the Appalachian Mountains from Nova Scotia to Alabama. Late June-early July flowers help fill the bloom gap. Branch tips are covered with bunches of white, pink or red blossoms. Prefers a good quality, humusy, acid soil with part shade to full light shade. Also known as Great Laurel or Great Rhododendron.
- Seed Count: 25-30
- Collection Date: Dec 2021
- Hardiness Zone: 4-9
- Height and Width: 1-5m x 1-5m
- Habitat: full to semi sun; well draining humus rich acidic year round moist soils.
- Family: Ericaceae
How to germinate Rhododendron maximum seeds
Rub peat moss through a 4mm screen to create fine lump free milled peat moss. Add 20/30 filter sand (10% content max) and greensand at 1 tbsp/gallon of medium). Moisten, blend well and fill pots/flats/WHT, tamp firm. Sprinkle seeds thinly on medium surface. Mist well. Give gentle warmth (20-25C). Lightly mist daily. Provide strong indirect light. Clear plastic cover helps maintain humidity and enhance germination /seedling survival by not letting medium desiccate. Seeds should germinate in 10 days. Never let seedlings nor medium dry out nor over water. Prick out when large enough to handle into individual pots and grow on. Shallow rooted. Be warned seedlings have very fine hair like roots and can damage easily. Have pots ready to receive when transplanting to avoid roots from drying out. Cuttings rarely strike, so seed is the best method of propagation.
