Calsap Rhododendron

The Rhododendron ‘Calsap’ has large, pale purple flowers. A careful balance of full sun and dappled shade (about 50-50) appears to be critical to a good proportion of leaves to blooms. Deadheading may encourage another period of blooming in late summer or early fall.

Nova Zembla means “new land” in Russian, after the island of that name off the northern coast of Russia. Nova Zembla rhododendron develops a stout trunk with thick stems. The bark becomes attractive with scale with age. The blooms are large, sometimes up to 5 inches wide. Flowers late April through May. (These blooms photographed May 26th, near Chicago).

‘Calsap’ grows well in light shade

Rhododendron (from the Greek: rhodos, “rose”, and dendron, “tree”) is a genus of flowering plants in the Heath Family (Ericaceae). It is a large genus with over 1000 species. Most have very colorful, showy flowers. It includes the plants known to gardeners as azaleas.

All parts of Rhododendrons are toxic to animals if ingested. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, hyper-salivation, weakness, coma, hypotension, CNS depression, cardiovascular collapse and death.

Weston’s Tapestry

Girard’s Fuschia Azalea

Weston’s Mayflower

Hong Kong Rhododendron

References

ASPCA, Animal poison control Toxic plant list
Kenneth Cox, Rhododendrons & Azaleas: A Colour Guide (Crowood Press, 2005).
Sonja Nelson, Rhododendrons in the Landscape (Timber Press, Incorporated, 2000).