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Rhododendron Saint Tudy

Rhododendron x augustinii 'Saint Tudy'
Hybrid Rhododendron

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A small evergreen rhododendron, with a compact and upright habit, offering clusters of lightly fragrant, lilac-blue flowers with a paler centre in April-May. Its dark foliage, tinted bronze in spring, is aromatic when crushed. This shrub requires an acid, humus-bearing soil, always moist but well-drained, a semi-shaded exposure and a sheltered position; it is not hardy below –12 °C.  
Height at maturity
1 m
Spread at maturity
80 cm
Exposure
Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -12°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March to April
Recommended planting time February to May, September to October
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Flowering time April to May
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Description

Rhododendron 'Saint Tudy' is a compact hybrid suitable for acidic soil borders in light shade. Its small flowers of a 'lobelia' blue form tight umbels on evergreen, dark and aromatic foliage. This small shrub, with a beautiful blue flowering in early spring, makes a striking effect in the garden or in a large pot on a sheltered terrace.

This rhododendron belongs to the Ericaceae family. It is a hybrid between R. impeditum, a dwarf species from the mountains of Sichuan and Yunnan, and R. augustinii, a Chinese shrub from western Hubei to Sichuan and Tibet, renowned for its flowers in lavender-blue tones.
The cultivar 'Saint-Tudy' was obtained in Cornwall, at the Lamellen estate located in the village of St Tudy, by E. J. P. Magor in 1936. It is part of a small series of English selections named after local parishes ('St Breward', 'St Merryn', 'St Minver'). 
Its habit is naturally compact, rather upright when the plant is young, then forming a dense cushion with age. Its growth is slow. At 10 years old, the shrub measures about 1m tall with a 0.80 m spread; in open ground, a mature specimen will reach up to 1.50 m in all directions, depending on growing conditions.
Flowering occurs from April to May in the form of small, dense, globular clusters composed of modestly sized, five-lobed campanulate flowers. Their colour is a mauve-blue with a lighter centre, sometimes washed with white; the corollas are lightly fragrant.
The foliage is evergreen in winter. It consists of small, ovate to lanceolate, leathery, dark green leaves. When crushed, the leaves emit a slight aromatic scent. The young leaves are bronze-tinted, and their undersides feature characteristic fine scales. The root system is fibrous and shallow. It requires acid, well-aerated, light soils. This variety is not hardy below -12°C.

Plant Rhododendron 'Saint Tudy' at the edge of a damp woodland or in the foreground of an acidic soil bed. In a container of at least 40–50 cm in diameter, it will thrive on an east- or north-facing terrace. You can associate it with Japanese azaleas, Daphne 'Perfume Princess' for its fragrance, or with other dwarf rhododendrons such as 'Moerheim', 'Blue Tit' and 'Dream Land'. A carpet of low, evergreen ferns such as Polypodium vulgare will keep their base cool without excessive root competition.

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Rhododendron: planting, growing and care
Family sheet
by Virginie T. 15 min.
Rhododendron: planting, growing and care
Read article

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1 m
Spread at maturity 80 cm
Habit irregular, bushy
Growth rate slow

Flowering

Flower colour blue
Flowering time April to May
Inflorescence Corymb
Fragrance slightly scented,

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour dark green
Product reference • 25067

Planting and care

Plant Rhododendron 'Saint Tudy' in a semi-shaded position, protected from cold, drying winds, in a moist, humus-rich, light, acidic soil. Like all ericaceous plants, it does not tolerate limy soils, nor heavy, waterlogged soils in winter. Dig a hole three times the volume of the pot. Soak the root ball in (non-calcareous) water and plant the shrub at the level of the collar, in a mixture composed of 1/4 peat, leaf mould, gravel or pozzolana, and loam. Water generously and keep the soil moist in summer.
Azaleas and Rhododendrons have a shallow root system. Consequently, they are susceptible to long dry periods. Therefore, a soil enriched with humus and abundant watering during dry spells are recommended. Moreover, this root system is not very strong, which is why it is essential to lighten heavy soils with drainage materials (gravel, pozzolana, clay balls) at planting time.
Then, apply a mulch of shredded pine bark at the base of the shrub every spring to keep the soil moist while maintaining an acidic pH. Maintenance simply involves deadheading the spent flowers in summer and removing dead branches.

Azaleas and Rhododendrons can sometimes be attacked by vine weevils, which eat the edges of leaves and the rootlets, as well as by the well-known 'rhododendron lace bug', which does not often cause significant damage. Yellowing of the leaves (chlorosis) in Rhododendron indicates poor iron assimilation in the soil and causes premature death of the plant. Though lime is often the cause, poorly drained soil or a deeply planted root ball can also explain the phenomenon.

Planting period

Best planting time March to April
Recommended planting time February to May, September to October

Intended location

Suitable for Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Edge of border, Small gardens, Container
Hardiness Hardy down to -12°C (USDA zone 8a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Exposure Partial shade
Soil pH Acidic
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, rich, light and well-drained

Care

Pruning No pruning necessary
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

Planting & care advice

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