An experimental assessment of the lime tolerance of several rhododendron cultivars.

RHS project team

Dr Paul D Alexander

Start date

31/01/2000 14:32:32

End date

31/01/2008 14:32:37

Keywords

Soil pH, INKARHO rhododendron, SPAD, calcifuge, chlorosis

Approach

Recently a consortium of German plant breeders claims to have developed a lime-tolerant rootstock (INKARHO®). Using isolated beds at RHS Garden Wisley, with soil pH chemically manipulated, four rhododendron cultivars were assessed on INKARHO and Cunninghams’s White (a naturally lime-tolerant rootstock) rootstocks and their own natural root system. A SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter, whose output is a measure of chlorophyll content, was used to assess plant health.

Benefits to gardeners

Those who garden on alkaline soils will be able to choose a cultivar of rhododendron that will grow sufficiently well in such conditions without the need for soil amendments.

Advisory information

Advice on understanding soil types

References

Alexander P D (2008). Are INKARHO rhododendrons more lime tolerant than traditional calcifuge rhododendrons?
SEESOIL, Journal of the South East England Soils Discussion Group, 17, 8-17.

Alexander P D (2002). An investigation into the performance of rhododendrons on lime-tolerant rootstocks. Poster presented to International Rhododendron Conference. Proceedings Rhododendrons in Horticulture and Science, published by RBG Edinburgh, 2003, pp.273 -277.