Rhododendron ponticum Kokardia

The Rhododendron 'Kokardia' is a variety of relatively slow growth, with a compact and rounded habit during its first ten years, which can eventually become a small tree after many years under favourable conditions. It blooms in May-June with a beautiful mauve flowering with a Bordeaux-coloured heart, which is quite charming. Its beautiful evergreen dark green foliage highlights its abundant flowering. A plant that thrives in acidic soil and is sensitive to limestone. It prefers partial shade, but depending on the climate, it can be planted in full sun in northern regions, provided that the soil remains slightly moist.

The Rhododendrons belong to the Ericaceae family, which offers us many ornamental plants (Erica, Enkianthus, Kalmia, Zenobia, Oxydendrum...) as well as some fruit-bearing plants (Strawberry tree, Blueberry...). The genus Rhododendron is vast, mainly comprising shrubs but also trees over 10 metres (33 feet) high, generally evergreen, but sometimes deciduous, especially in the case of Azaleas, which are botanically considered Rhododendrons.

The Rhododendron Kokardia is a hybrid obtained in 1978 by the German breeder Hachmann, a specialist in the genus who has created numerous varieties. The family nursery is still active in Barmstedt, north of Hamburg, one of the largest nursery areas in Europe. It is a slow to medium-growing shrub that forms a beautiful, compact, rounded dome of 1.2 metres (4 feet) in height and 1 metre (3 feet) in spread in 10 years. But it continues to grow for many more years, reaching a height of 3 metres (10 feet) in adulthood. Therefore, it is not really suitable for small gardens...
'Kokardia' produces large inflorescences in May-June for about 3 weeks, consisting of clusters of large mauve-lilac flowers, with a well-marked Bordeaux-coloured blotch. Its foliage, evergreen in winter, is medium to dark green, which beautifully complements the flowering.

Its spectacular flowering alone justifies planting this Kokardia variety as a focal point, but its relatively short duration means it's wise to combine it with other shrubs with staggered flowering within a varied flowerbed. In this case, it is important to leave enough space for it to develop properly. Quite Hardy, it thrives in a humid and cool climate. You can combine it with many other acid-loving plants and choose staggered flowering. For the beginning of the year, for example, choose a Corylopsis with fragrant yellow flowers that appear before the leaves on bare wood, preceding the flowering of "Kokardia". From June onwards, a Magnolia grandiflora will take over from our Rhododendron to provide a spectacle with beautiful fragrant white flowers. There are several varieties of different sizes that can suit the available space in each garden. And to extend the summer, a Hydrangea paniculata will be perfectly suitable.