Vireya Rhododendrons
Although Vireya Rhododendrons have been around for a century or more and to be found in plant collections in the leading gardens of the world it is only in the last 15 years that this beautiful race of shrubs from the subtropical regions of Melanesia have found their way into nurseries and into our gardens.
Much hybridization has been carried out on them to produce more compact plants with larger heads or trusses of flowers. In the wild Vireya Rhododendrons tend to be tall and lanky or straggly and sprawly. What attracted plant collectors to take cuttings and seeds of these shrubs were their beguiling flowers. Large loose trusses of vibrant coloured flowers in shades of orange, scarlet, yellow , peach ,apricot and pink. Also white. Many flowers were fragrant and this characteristic has been bred into many of the modern varieties of today.
Vireya Rhododendrons are superbly suited for growing in the temperate regions of New Zealand. In areas with warm summers but with cold winters Vireyas can be grown as container plants and moved indoors or under cover through winter. Areas with little or no frosts can grow them out in the garden where they are well suited growing in dappled sunlight or in areas where they receive morning sun.
As a generalization the smaller the leaf a Vireya has, the more cold hardy it will be. And the larger and more shiny the leaf is indicates a tolerance for heat. There is a great variability within the genera as many hail from the cold mountainous regions while others from the tropical coasts.
Flowering between species and even the same plants is not constant and varies from season to season and year to year. Some varieties seem to be always in flower while others flower on and off. Others may have distinct times to flower but it varies from garden to garden and also regionally. So they are a very surpising plant bursting forth flowers suddenly and unexpectedly. Nobody is sure what triggers bud formation. There is speculation that lack of water will do it but in my experience lack of water usually ends in death.
One can plant a lot of Vireyas in a small space. Their roots take up very little room and they perform superbly in containers, particulary in porous ones such as ponga pots. As long as they are watered regulary and fed Vireyas will survive a lifetime containerised.
In the garden Vireyas seem to do best with perfect drainage. In the wild many are terrestial and epiphytic plants so it gives us a clue as to what their needs are. Bev my keen gardening and Orchid friend treats them like Orchids and plants them into coarse grade bark .She plants them slightly above ground level and supports the bark with a ring of large stones. The same result (although a lot more expensive but more decorative ) can be had by planting into a ponga pot and then half burying the pot into the ground.
Remove spent flowers and prune back to keep compact. Woody stems have the ability to sprout new shoots when cut back.
Our native plants blend well with Vireyas. The lovely greens we have and the different textures and leaf shapes provide a calming contrast. I particulary like Vireyas planted amongst ferns.
Even the smallest of gardens can be graced by these lovely plants. Cascade them from baskets, train them as standards or spill them from pots.
The following is a guide to help you choose the right variety for your garden situation Once you have grown and flowered one well I guarantee you will become hooked and want to grow more of these exotic beauties. The lists are not exhaustive ones, just enough to whet your appetites.
Reliable proven performers .
Pink delight, Coral Flare, First Light, Tropic Glow ,Sweet Wendy, Kisses ,Simbu Sunset ,Gilded Sunrise, Cherry Pie, Sunny Splendour, Satan’s Gift, Just Peachy.
Scented flowers
Cameo Spice, Tuba, Jasminifolium, Satan’s Gift, Great Scentation,Peach Dream, Buttermilk.,Cecilia, Cherry Liqueur, Jean Baptise
Tall growers
Halo Gold, Gilded Sunrise, Bold Janus, Hari’s Choice,Sweet Amanda
Medium bushy
Honey Star, Popcorn, Rosie Posie, Apricot Gem, Fireplum, Kisses, Java light.
Low Spreaders
Red Rover, Show Stopper, Fireball, Just Peachy, Golden Casket,
Magic Flute, Flamingo bay, Bronze Warrior, St Valentine
Shade Tolerant
Brightly, Pink Ray, Simbu Sunset, Popcorn, Just Peachy, Liberty Bar.
Sun tolerant
Stanton ’s Glory, Arthur’s Choice, Cyprian, Buttermaid, Toff, Sunny Splendour, Java Light , Apricot Gem
Colours
White Popcorn, Gwenevere Jean Baptiste, Tuba, Magic Flute
Red Fireball, Hot Gossip, Ne Plus Ultra, Red Rooster, St Valentine Orange Bronze Warrior, Brightly, Cordial, Java Light, Cordial Orange Pink Star Posy, Kisses, Coral Flare, Marshall Pierce Madison ,Little Pinkie Apricot Apricot Charm, Harry Wu, Bold Janus, Cameo Spice, Tropic Tango
Yellow Buttermaid, Goldilocks, Gilded Sunrise, Golden Casket, Golden Charm
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