Rhododendron and Hosta Garden

Purpose

To display rhododendrons and hostas that thrive in Victoria's climate.

Habitat

This woodland setting includes a range of light exposures from full sun through glade to full shade. The soil amendment story for this garden is an heroic epic and is summarized in the "History" section below. Moderate, frequent watering is required during the summer months.

Features

The original garden simply displayed rhododendrons, but was remodeled with the stated aim of developing "a harmonious garden of year-round interest with an underlying pattern which recreates symbolically the homeland of rhododendrons." The year-round interest has been achieved by adding companion plants, primarily hostas. A secondary aim of the remodeling was to use plants that form transitions to the surrounding gardens. The south-central area has been designated as a memorial to the late Mrs. Mary Patricia Ballantyne.

Plants

Rhododendrons is a large genus in the large Ericaceae family, with over 800 species and more than 5,000 named varieties and hybrids. In popular usage, two subgroups of rhododendrons are called azaleas, but this usage is not employed here. To do well rhododendrons must be in a well-drained, water-retentive, acid soil. Most prefer shade or partial shade, but some are sun-tolerant varieties. The genus displays both evergreen and deciduous types, a wide range of leaf size and texture, and many types of bark.

In this garden more than 300 varieties have been selected for their small to medium sizes and their disease resistance. They vary widely in size, shape, form colour of bloom, fragrance, foliage, and sun tolerance. Blooming periods extend from early February to July, and the spectacular peak is from late April to early June. Reliable favourites for this area include 'Tessa Bianca' and 'Snow Lady' with their white blossoms in February; pink 'Praecox' and fuchsia 'PJM' in March; spectacular crimson 'Taurus,' tiny picote pink 'Ginny Gee,' and striking red 'Rubicon' in April; pink fading to white Rhododendron yakushimanum and pink 'Scintillation' in May; freckled white 'Gomer Waterer' in June; and pink Rhododendron discolor in July.

Texture, shape, and colour variations of the leaves provide year-round interest, but for an extended colour season, one must add companion plants to a rhododendron garden. A number of trees, shrubs, and perennials are chosen for this purpose, but the prime companion plant group in this garden is Hosta.

This genus, in the Liliaceae family, has similar sun and soil requirements to rhododendrons, but its space requirements and flowering times are totally different, so it offers an excellent complement. Hostas have a wide range of sizes, but most are modest sized plants that are less than 1 meter in height and diameter. The flowers are a nice late summer touch, but their glory is in the leaves. Typically heart shaped with distinct veins, the leaves show a tremendous range of colour from pale green to deep aqua and striking pattern variations. Examples are the tiny, bluish-leaved 'Dorset Blue,' the variegated 'Francee' and 'Patriot,' the yellow-leaved and sun-tolerant 'Sun Power,' the large pale green leaves of 'Sum and Substance,' and the larger still, bluish leaves of 'Bressingham Blue.'

Maintenance

If enough leaf mulch is available, the entire garden is mulched annually. Fertilization and insect control of rhododendrons is fairly straightforward, but a relatively specialized knowledge must be acquired to keep their plants well shaped and thickly blossoming. The genus contains a wide variety of plant types, so deadheading (removal of spent flowers), shearing, pruning, and growth bud pinching must be tailored to individual plants.

The mulching and fertilization done for the rhododendrons in this garden also meets the needs of the hostas, so the primary maintenance task is slug control. The leaves of these herbaceous perennials are cut back to the ground in the fall once they begin to rot.

History

This garden was first established in 1985, but due consideration and not been given to the heavy clay soil, and plant health was a major problem. In 1994, Ted Irving undertook a major restoration. The Victoria Rhododendron Society provided financial support and, primarily in the person of Norman Todd, expert advice. The restoration plan included some thoughtful design elements, but the prime focus was on amending the soil. Some 15 cm of coarse sand and 30 cm of leaf mulch were hauled onto the site in wheelbarrows and dug by hand into the entire garden to a depth of 45 cm. A small, dedicated crew of volunteers, working primarily on Wednesday mornings, completed this task in 1999.

As this phase of the renovation was winding down, Ann Widdowson, in the name of her cousin, Connie Williams, and aunt, Frances Williams. donated funds to add hostas to the garden. Frances Williams was a well-known hosta hybridizer, and some her introduced varieties are featured in this garden.

Support

The Victoria Rhododendron Society donates design consultation and funds maintenance for the garden. Ann Widdowson provides annual funding for maintenance and development of the hostas. The Rhododendron and Hosta Garden Partnership Group maintains this garden.

Contact person

Dr. Bill McMillan (250) 478-3515