Rhododendron Marie Forte
Rhododendron Marie Forte
Rhododendron Marie Forte
Rhododendron Marie Forte
Rhododendron Marie Forte
Rhododendron Marie Forte (Madame Fortier)
Rhododendron
Unfortunately, there is an issue with the plant's growth, and it is perishing.
Franck, 31/03/2024
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Description
Rhododendron 'Marie Forte', sometimes marketed under the names Marie Fortie or Madame Fortier, is an old hybrid obtained in Belgium, still widely planted in our gardens and in large pots to decorate terraces and balconies. It naturally forms a beautiful rounded bush with dense vegetation, and in spring it is covered with remarkable flowers with a dark pink-violet colour that fades to purple as they wither. Illuminated by white stamens and grouped in round inflorescences on fine, glossy foliage, they bring life to the garden, even in shady areas. Decorative throughout the year, plant this evergreen shrub in ericaceous soil, in semi-shade or even in the morning sun if the soil remains cool.
Rhododendrons belong to the Ericaceae family, just like heathers, preferring humid climates and soils devoid of limestone, tending towards acidity. Derived from hybridisation with Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron 'Marie Forte' was obtained in 1925 and remains one of the most popular cultivars to this day. It forms a dense bush with a rounded habit, not exceeding 2 m (6.6 ft) in all directions at maturity. Its growth is rather slow. It generally reaches 1.2 m (3.9 ft) in all directions at the age of 10. Its large evergreen leaves are dark green and shiny, quite thin, elliptical in shape, and cover the plant well. From mid-May to mid-June, depending on the region, an abundant flowering submerges the bush with beautiful large funnel-shaped flowers for about 3 weeks. The flower buds are purplish-wine in colour, opening in a range of shades from pink-violet to very deep purple, which is lighter in the dark red maculated throat. 'Marie Forte' petals are fringed at the edges and open to beautiful white stamens.
Rhododendron 'Marie Forte' is quite hardy, down to -15° C (5° F) or even -20° C (-4° F). Although they prefer a semi-shaded exposure, hybrid Rhododendrons can tolerate the morning sun as long as it is not scorching and their base remains cool. 'Marie Forte', with its somewhat theatrical flowering, will easily adorn a small shady space in the garden, accompanied by ferns, blue or variegated hostas, Pieris, heathers, Kalmias, Azaleas, Japanese Maples, or other rhododendrons from the same group to create superb patchworks of textures and colours in spring. Rhododendrons can also be used to create magnificent hedges, alone or with camellias or mimosas (in mild climates), for example. Cultivation in pots requires regular watering with non-limestone water and specific fertiliser for ericaceous soil plants.
Rhododendron Marie Forte in pictures
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Botanical data
Rhododendron
Marie Forte (Madame Fortier)
Ericaceae
Rhododendron
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
Plant in a partially shaded position, protected from cold and drying winds, in moist, humus-rich and light soil, with a tendency towards acidity or neutrality. Like all plants of the ericaceous family, it does not tolerate limestone soils or heavy soils saturated with water in winter. If the soil remains moist in summer, this rhododendron can also tolerate morning sun exposure. Avoid planting at its base, as its shallow roots do not tolerate competition from other plants, especially for water resources.
Dig a hole three times larger than the pot volume. Soak the root ball in non-limestone water and plant the bush at the collar level, in a mixture composed of 1/4 turf, leaf compost, gravel or pumice stone, and loam. Water thoroughly and keep the soil moist in summer. Azaleas and Rhododendrons have a shallow root system. As a result, they are susceptible to long periods of drought. That's why a humus-enriched soil and abundant watering during dry periods are recommended. Furthermore, this root system is not very strong, which is why it is essential to lighten heavy soils with draining materials (gravel, pumice stone, clay pellets) when planting. Apply a mulch of shredded pine bark at the base of the bush every spring to retain soil moisture while maintaining an acidic pH.
Maintenance consists of removing faded flowers in summer and pruning out dead branches. Azaleas and Rhododendrons can sometimes be attacked by weevils that eat the edges of leaves and rootlets, as well as the infamous "rhododendron beetle" which does not often cause severe damage. Yellowing of the leaves (chlorosis) in rhododendrons indicates poor assimilation of iron in the soil and can lead to premature plant death. While limestone is often the cause, poorly drained soil or deeply planted root balls can also explain the phenomenon.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.
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