Rhododendron indicum ‘Splendens’
A cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet, ‘Splendens’ was described but not figured in Paxton's Magazine of Botany from a plant seen at Henderson’s Pine Apple Nursery: ‘Flowers like those of Azalea indica smithii, though of a deeper ground colour, with darker spots, and of a far greater size. Its habit, too, is thought to be dwarfer and denser, and its whole aspect is superior.’ [MB p.94/1841]. An orange-pink, spotted variety, bred by Smith. Advertisement from Bainbridge & Hewison, Nurserymen, Seedsmen and Florists, York. [Gard. Chron. 1856].
Horticultural & Botanical History
For more information on Indica Azaleas see Rhododendron indicum Sweet.
History at Camden Park
Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [T.118/1850]. Obtained from Kew Gardens, brought out from England by Captain P. P. King in 1849. In the confirmatory list sent by Macarthur to King it is marked with an ‘o’, meaning new to the colony, but with a superimposed cross, which may mean ‘dead on arival’. [ML A1980-3]. It was also included among desiderata to Loddiges’ Nursery, 13th February, 1848 [MP A2933-1, p.172] and may have been received as it is not amongst those notated ‘died’.
Notes
Published Jun 07, 2009 - 09:44 AM | Last updated Sep 12, 2011 - 02:53 PM
| Family | Ericaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | Garden origin, England |
| Synonyms |
|
| Common Name | Indica Azalea |
| Name in the Camden Park Record |
Azalea Indica splendens |
| Confidence level | high |