Rhododendron indicum ‘Variegata’

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘This is the celebrated variegated Chinese Azalea, which so many attempts have been made in vain for these twenty years to procure alive.  It was brought home by Mr. M'Killigan in 1832, and is now in possession of Mr. Knight, of the King's,Road.  In habit and leaves it is exactly the same as the brickred kind figured at t.1700; but it is far handsomer in flower.  The blossoms which were produced in Mr. Knight's Nursery, not having been so perfect as could have been wished, we have completed our figure from a Chinese drawing in the possession of the Horticultural Society, which had been made under the inspection of Mr Reeves.’  [BR f.1716/1834].

In 1852 The Gardeners Chronicle commented: ‘The introduction of Azalea indica alba and phoenicea, together with the seedlings raised by the late Mr. Smith of Norbiton, tended still further to recommend the azalea to popular favour; and the appearance of A. variegata, lateritia, Gledstanesii and Danielsiona, completely established its merits’.  [Gard. Chron. 1852].  

History at Camden Park

Desiderata to Loddiges’ Nursery on 13th February, 1848 [MP A2933-1, p.172] and 1st February, 1849 [MP A2933-1, p.185].

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

Several other azaleas were called variegata at this time, including forms of Rhododendron nudiflora, viscosa and punctulata.