A new late flowering variety of rhododendron was launched by Millais Nurseries at last week’s Woking Nursery Exhibition.
Millais explains that Rhododendron Pink Polar Bear is a chance pink seedling out of a batch of Polar Bear seedlings raised by breeder Jack Bottle.
July flowering Rhododendrons are relative unusual, flowering well past the main season in May, and are typically white. One such example is this R. Polar Bear.
The new R. Pink Polar Bear features attractive large scented pink flowers in mid July. It is deep pink in bud, opening to pale purplish pink, with carmine pink in the throat.
The firn’s David Millais said: “We have been building up stocks of this plant for several years now, and it is proving to be an excellent strong grower, which should reach nearly two metres in 10 years. To have pink flowers so late in the season is wonderful, and they are scented.”
The origins of the flower are still proving to be something of a conundrum however. “Jack and I have both wondered where the pinkness comes from. Because nothing else was flowering at the time the parent Polar Bear was flowering to have given this seedling its stunning pink flowers,” Millais noted.
The nursery is making Rhododendron Pink Polar Bear available this autumn in 7.5 litre pots, and stresses that it is suitable for many acidic areas of the country. It favours woodland shelter to protect the blooms from strong summer sun, and from the coldest winter frosts.
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