Rhododendron

Rhododendron lapponicum is native to North Norway, suggesting that selected species of Rhododendron are not impossible to grow here. Also, many species of related genera grow in the region. Thus, Tromsø Botanic garden have a small collection of Rhododendron and other Ericaceae. The species and hybrids selected for trial must be from northerly locations or grow at very high altitudes. Three European species R. hirsutum, R. ferrugineum and R. myrtifolium all do quite well in Tromsø. From North America R. canadense and R. minus are among the few species sufficiently hardy, but some hybrids between North American and Asiatic species are good, one example being R. `Ramapo`. From Central Asia, Caucasus, Siberia and northern Japan the following species are cultivated fairly successfully: R. caucasicum, R. aureum and R. camtchaticum. Several hybrids based on R. caucasicum also do well. By far the largest number of Rhododendron species in the world is found in the Sino-Himalayan mountains. Here, plants growing above 4000 meters can be tried in Tromsø, and several species as well as hybrids of such provenance are well established in the Rhododendron collection.

Rhododendron aureum Rhododendron 'Frosthexe' Rhododendron luteum Rhododendron 'Scarlet Wonder' Cassiope 'Edinburgh'