Differing Opinions: Species or Hybrids

By Alan Campbell

The poet and playwright, T. S. Eliot once stated in his poem ‘The Waste Land’ that “April is the cruelest month”.  It is easy to surmise that Mr. Eliot was not a gardener.

Rhododendron growers eagerly await the first blooms as the new year dawns.  The species R. dauricum, R. mucronulatum and R. ririei compete with early hybrids ‘Christmas Cheer’, ‘Lee’s Scarlet’, ‘Seta’, and ‘Snow Lady’. As the calendar page turns to April, the proliferation and escalation of blooms surges.

Rhododendron ‘Princess Abkhazi’

Proponents of species rhododendrons are quick to declare their rhododendron preferences to hybrid growers — a decades long and ongoing debate as to which is better.  Princess Abkhazi, an advocate of species rhododendrons, once declared with humour, that hybrid rhododendrons were the “blousey barmaids” of the genus.  Now to be clear I have no aversion to blousey barmaids as I had chance to be acquainted with one or two in my youth.  Peggy Abkhazi notwithstanding, blousey barmaids (the hybrid plants, I mean) beckon our customers with their funds to our plant sale tables.  Many enthusiastic plants-people scoop up their prizes, barely acknowledging plant names, often selecting by colour choices.  Amongst these scurrying buyers, a few individuals are seen calmly searching for treasures —  gently turning up the underside of a leaf to search for indumentum, be it unistrate or bistrate, or perhaps noting the bristles on the leaf petioles. Ah, the species plantsman!

The close inspection of foliage and the indumentum, that some rhododendron shoppers value, that determines their purchase choices.

During the rush of buyers at our plant sale, the job of the CVRS members is to aid customers in finding the perfect plants for their gardens, answering questions on mature plant size, specific growing condition requirements, and hardiness.  Unless asked, advocating one’s favourite is not needed, as choice is simply subjective and of personal preference. 

However, I feel what we all can agree on, is how misinformed T. S. Eliot was in his April observation. For us, April is an exciting month!