Augustus Rhododendron

This species is named after botanist Augustine Henry , who first collected samples of this plant ^[5] . Augustine Henry (1857–1930) was the first European to discover and send samples of this plant to Kew in London.

In 1899, he was trained as an assistant to a sanitary doctor and was sent to work in China, to the customs service in Shanghai in 1881. From there, in 1882, he was sent to Yichang , and then to Sichuan and Yunnan provinces , where they discovered a new species of rhododendron. In China, A. Henry investigated plants used in Chinese medicine . During his time in China, A. Henry collected about 15,000 samples of plants, including seeds ^[6] .

Botanical illustration of the Rh. augustinii from Curtis's Botanical Magazine , 1913

In nature, it is found in China in the provinces of Gansu , Hubei , Shaanxi , Sichuan , Yunnan , at altitudes of 1000–3400 (-4200) meters above sea level. Forests, thickets on rocky sites ^[4] .

Shrub , 1–5 m in height; young shoots scaly, densely pubescent.

Leaf stalk 3-5 (-10) mm; leaf blades are elliptical, oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 3–7 × 1–3.5 cm, pointed.

Inflorescence apical, umbellate, 2-6-flowered. Pedicels 0.8-1.5 cm, sparsely scaly, pubescent or bare; calyx lobes 0.5–2 mm, rounded or triangular in shape, densely scaly, densely pubescent or bare; the corolus is widely funnel-bell-shaped, from blue to lavender, sometimes pale pinkish-purple or white, 3-3.5 cm. Stamens of unequal length, 2.5-3.5 cm, longer than the corolla. Ovary 5-nest, densely scaly.

Flowering in April-May. Seeds ripen in July-August ^{[2] [3] [4]} .

2 subspecies:

• Rh. augustinii subsp. augustinii (Batalin) H. Hara
• Rh. augustinii subsp. chasmanthum (Diels) Cullen

Known since 1901 ^[2] . As soon as Augustine's Rhododendron was in England, it became a hit and in 1920 was awarded the Award of Garden Merit award. Gardeners, he attracted primarily the purity of blue. Later were collected several forms differing in color of flowers. David Lionel de Rothschild created varieties by crossing these forms between themselves ( Rhododendron Electra Group ). Later Augustine's rhododendron was crossed with a number of other species and varieties of rhododendrons, as a result of which new and unusual varieties of color were obtained: 'Blue Diamond' , 'Blaney's Blue' , 'St. Breward ' and many others ^[6] . When crossing Augustine rhododendron with rhododendron dense , the well-known small-leaved and small-flowered variety 'Blue Tit' with almost blue flowers was obtained.

In Latvia it was introduced in 1956 (it is recommended to shelter for the winter). Very decorative. Cultivated rarely (in Riga) ^[2] .

Frost resistance zones - 7 ^[6] . It withstands temperature reductions up to −18 ° С ^{[3] [7]} .

Unpretentious. It is grown on well-drained, loose, acidic soils . Mulching is mandatory ^[6] .