Eco-gardening is at its best in The Monday Garden
January 11, 2003, Issue 94
It's the Wolf Moon. You think it's cold, and I think it's cold with temperatures in the 'teens and below-zero wind chill, but the local Rhodie says it's not so bad.
If you look closely, you'll see that the rhododendron's leaves are curled and drooping but not fully curled and are not hanging straight down like frozen string beans. Further, they're still dark green, not brownish. So, as the Rhodie perceives cold, it's between 20F and zero.
Rhodies have tiny pores on the bottom sides of their leaves for air and moisture. When it gets cold, the pores shut to keep moisture from being sucked out. Unlike many plants, Rhodies can go one better and curl their leaves; sort of like humans who can curl their tongues.
This is the "below half-mast" position, which means it's below 40F but the leaves haven't started to curl which means it's above 35F. The new snow in the background will melt in the sun.
This is the almost-upright position (a little above 40F). A couple of sweatshirts will do for gardening.
Rhododendrons belong to the Heath family, like azaleas, blueberries, mountain laurel, and wintergreen. While heaths are found around the global, many are native to North America.
The 'burbs' ubiquitous lavender pom-pom Rhododendron carolinianium comes from the Southeastern USA, as its name suggests. It's hardy to zone 5, Zone 4 with winter protection. While the Rhodie C. may be as common as a give-away at a drive-in bank, it's just fine, thank you. Butterflies and bees like the pollen and all kinds of animals shelter the evergreen thickets. Over a generation or two, it'll grow into a graceful small tree.
According to Purdue University, the leaves are moderately poisonous to livestock, which doesn't seem to stop the deer. Purdue also says that honey made from the pollen is poisonous so watch where you put the beehive.
There are good web sites if you want to read up on the care of Rhodies. However, you don't really need to know much, as they're very hard to kill if you leave them alone. They don't need any 'cides and can be adversely affected by fertilizer. They like moist, acid, soil in part shade with wind protection. So plant them near the house on the north, east or west side and dig in lots of peat. Mulch well when you think of it, and water (if legal) in severe droughts. Plant at least 3' to 4' away from the house, so there's room for it to grow. Never prune branch tips -- the bushes are supposed to be shaggy and you'll destroy next year's flowers. If the shrub gets too big, take out a few major branches from the near of base.
Picture site: Stamford, CT, Bedford Street, just north of the police station, near the corner of Oak Street.
Photo credits: Sue Sweeney
© Sue Sweeney 2005
What the readers said:
They look sad...I had 3 beautiful rhodies (red, pink and a white). Sadly, none of them survived our cold winters.
Lin (NY)
Cool picture! (as always!) Jennifer (NJ)