Rhododendron ‘Coccinea Orange’

Horticultural & Botanical History

Azalea coccinea orange could be one of three plants.  It could be one of the early Ghent hybrids, known collectively as Rhododendron x gandavensis Hort.  [For further details see Rhododendron x gandavensis 'Gloria-mundi' and other cultivars].  Some Ghent hybrids have orange-red flowers and may well include Azalea coccinea orange.  Azalea hybridae-belgicae coccinea maxima and coccinea speciosa are listed in the 1836 Loddiges’ Nursery catalogue, a copy of which is held at Camden Park.

Another possibility is Azalea coccinea, which is probably a form of Rhododendron nudiflorum Torr.  Azalea coccinea is also listed in the 1836 Loddiges’ catalogue, with four varieties, crispa, major, praecox and serotina.  See Rhododendron nudiflorum Torr. ‘Coccinea Major’ for more details.

A third possibility is one of the early Highclere hybrids [Rhododendron x alterclerense Lindl.] listed among which is coccinea.  For further details see Rhododendron x alterclerense Lindl. and other references to the Highclere hybrids.  The 1836 Loddiges’ catalogue lists Azalea hybridae altaclerensae coccinea nobilis.  For details see Rhododendron x alterclerense ‘Coccinea Nobilis’.

History at Camden Park

Listed only in the 1845 catalogue.  Macarthur had mixed fortunes with plants received from Loddiges’ and elsewhere at this time and many were dead on arrival.  Some of these are listed in a subsequent letter but it is possible that others arrived alive and were planted in the gardens although never listed in the catalogues.

Notes