Thoughts on Rhododendron leafy growth

Hi all,

I've noticed one of our rhododendrons this year is particularly leafy with flowers somewhat buried in the foliage (see attached). I assume the lighter leaves higher up are growth from this year where as the flower buds would have started last year, lower down. Does this seem normal? I pruned it soon after flowering last year which I think was the right time. Perhaps it was where I made the cuts that wasn't ideal. Just wondering if there's anything I can do in future, to improve flower/foliage ratio and distribution of buds Vs leaves.

Thanks for the help

 

My guess is the pruned shoots are the ones with just new leaves and the flowers are on the unpruned shoots.
They are not a plant you can prune regularly and still get flowers IMO, I could be wrong as I only have one fairly scrawny Rhodo.

 

I think @pete thoughts are probably right.

I had a huge rhodo about 15ft wide and 10ft high.
2 years ago I cut the whole lot back to about 2-3 ft. All that was left was bare thick stems.
It resprouted very quickly and grew away.
I had no flowers the following year, but this year it is in full flower.
It's back to about 8ft high and wide now, so will need another cut back soon.

You can hack them back as much as you want, but they will lose flowers for one year after a heavy prune and re-flower the following year.

So maybe some of your pruning last year removed potential flower buds.
But you did prune it at the right time - just after flowering is best to maximize flowers the following year.

 

Hi Pete's,

Thanks for the comments, think you're right. My aim is to keep it roughly the same size but if it's not pruned annually I assume it will grow bigger. So need to find some middle ground with it. Maybe prune every other year. Maybe no need to actively remove the spent blooms then?

 

I just wonder if a smaller variety would fit the bill, maybe a bit of research and you could get one that doesn't get too big.

 

Mine was big when I moved here 38 yrs ago and I never pruned it in many years as it was toward the end of the garden.
I have given it a medium prune previously, but as all significant pruning seems to encourage strong growth on them, mine was back to the previous size in a year, meaning it needed to be done again!
I'm pleased with my efforts 2 yrs ago cutting it all back to 2-3 ft bare stems.
It has brought it back to a reasonable size, better shape and is flowering well now.
I can probably leave it another 2ish years then do another severe pruning.

 

Thank you both. I think I have a tendency to think that pruning is an annual must rather than a choice, a bit like my haircuts but not necessarily and obviously plant specific. I'll probably allow it to do it's thing and I do like them and seem to grow well here. Thanks again

 

I grow many Rhododendron and Azalea and yours @Mattyp looks pretty healthy and as others have said, the growth looks normal to me as the non flowering stems have put on foliage.
I try not to prune mine but if I do I tend to prune hard but if not a huge plant which yours is not I delay prune ie prune down 1 or 2 stems 1 year and then prune the others the next so as not to shock the plant too much. To save you pruning every year and losing flowers for the following season I would suggest you do this but not now, maybe about April of next year or when you are due your last frost as new growth can be burnt by frost.Prune half the branches down to up the 3rd plank up on the fence behind. Maybe looks drastic but the shrub will be all the better for it!

 

Flower buds form in the previous June, July, so pruning after that removes flower buds. Also don't let them get dry at that time of year as flower bud either don't form or can abort.
Camellias are similar in behaviour and requirements.
There are some very good small rhododendrons around, you might need to hunt around a bit though.

 

Correct, many of the Yak hybrids would take many years to get to the top of Mattyp’s fence.

 

Thanks for the advice. I may do this next year (cut 1/3-1/2 back hard). I'm keen to keep it a manageable size at least in height. I have to admit to pruning it post flowering this year as well but I wanted to see if last year I was a little late and cut off the new flower buds. This year I was earlier and was quite careful with my cuts so we'll see if it makes a difference next year. If not I will prune as mentioned above.

 

That's good to know on yak hybrids, new to me. Thanks

 

These are a few of mine @Mattyp . None are less than about 8 years old and you can see their size, never having been pruned. None are as big as yours.The last photo is of one of my favourites. It is called Hoppy. One of the seven dwarf Yak hybrids. You think it is going to be a rather boring mauve but comes out a a very soft lilac colour with frilly petals. Really pretty. The majority of the Yaks flower here in Scotland about the middle of May. I am not sure where you live but if much further south they may flower in April.

 

Yes they're lovely, thanks for sharing