| Abstrakt: |
Vireyas or rhododendrons of section Vireya vary from small, delicate alpine plants, to large bushes and even trees in their native environments. Most are from Southeast Asia and are tender, so require winter protection in the UK. They are often epiphytic (grow on branches of trees and shrubs, and need acidic, free-draining compost. Most vireyas will flower when small and there is a wide range of flower colours and shapes to choose from. Many are also deliciously and sometimes powerfully scented. Vireyas have an exotic appeal that has produced excited comment every since they were first put on public display more than 150 years ago, but they remain a much-misunderstood group of plants. One of the most delicate-looking vireyas in cultivation is Rhododendron anagalliflorum. Several species with long, tubular white or pale pink flowers are wonderfully scented. One of the best and most reliable deep-winter-flowering species is the Mt Kinabalu collection of R. brookeannum. Of the few modern hybrids in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) collection, one, the result of a cross made by vireya enthusiast Paul Smith between r. lowii and R. brookeanum, produced an enormous globe of yellow flowers more than 30cm (1ft) across on 21 December 2002. INSETS: PESTS AND DISEASES;CULTIVATION OF VIREYAS;SPECIES TO GROW. |
