R. Sir Charles Lemon

Natural Hybrid

Botanical Synonyms	R. arboreum ssp cinnamomeum var roseum f album
Seed Parent	R. arboreum ssp cinnamomeum
Pollen Parent	R. campanulatum ssp campanulatum
Introduced	1851
Mature Wild Height	700 cm. (23ft.)
Bloom Time	midseason
Flower	campanulate
Flower Color	white
Fragrance	?
Leaves	?
Leaf persistence	Evergreen
Minimum Hardiness	-10 C (14 F)
Additional Hardiness Info	H4
Extra Information	Rhododendron Sir Charles Lemon is sometimes labelled in gardens as R. arboreum ssp. cinnamomeum 'Sir Charles Lemon'. This is in fact a natural hybrid of R. arboreum ssp. cinnamomeum x R. campanulatum. Seed pods were harvested by SIr Joseph Hooker during his trip to Sikkim, Assam and East Bengal in 1849-1851 and sent to England. The plant grew in Sir Charles Lemon gardens, in Carclew, Cornwalls. During a trip to Cornish gardens, Henry McLaren, Lord Aberconway, spotted the rhododendron and took cuttings for propagation in 1937. As the plant had no name, he called it Sir Charles Lemon in memory of his grower and owner. Grown from cuttings,all the plants worldly distributed come originally from this specimen. Unfortunately, the original plant was deliberately destroyed after WW II. Though being more than 100 years old, it was in good condition. The plant forms a big shrub or a small tree up to 7 m. The pointed leaves are wider than pure R. arboreum, intermediate between the parents. They are dark kaki green above and have a rusty indumentum when mature. The stem is mahogany and the bark rough. Average annual growth is 20-25 cm. The plant is sometimes slow to bloom, do not expect to get flowers before it is 1,00 - 1,25 m. Like many species it blooms well every two years. The flowering period roughly in April can last 3 weeks. The truss is white and graceful and makes a good contrast with the leaves or the stem. Some trusses in a vase make a wonderful bouquet. The plant seems resistant to diseases.

Title Sir Charles Lemon Photo By Hank Helm Date Taken Location Hank Helm Garden, Bainbridge Island, WA, USA License Copyright, Hank Helm. Sizes small medium
Title Sir Charles Lemon Photo By Harry R. Wright Date Taken April 23, 2009 Location private garden Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada License Copyright, Harry R. Wright. Sizes small medium
Title Sir Charles Lemon Photo By Garth Wedemire Date Taken April 20, 2006 Location Mike Bale's Garden: Lu Zhu, Agassiz, BC, Canada License CC BY 4.0 Attribution Sizes small medium
Title Sir Charles Lemon Photo By Yves Tuset Date Taken Location own garden Brest, Brittany, France License Copyright, Yves Tuset. Sizes small medium Description planted in 1987
Title Sir Charles Lemon Photo By Mary J. Parker Date Taken May 2009 Location private garden Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island, Canada License Copyright, Mary J. Parker. Sizes small
Title Sir Charles Lemon Photo By Everard Daniel Date Taken April 3, 2007 Location Glendurgan, Cornwall, UK License Copyright, Everard Daniel. Sizes small medium
Title Sir Charles Lemon Photo By Yves Tuset Date Taken Location own garden Brest, Brittany, France License Copyright, Yves Tuset. Sizes small medium Description Buds opening
Title Sir Charles Lemon Photo By Hank Helm Date Taken April 11, 2008 Location Hank Helm Garden, Bainbridge Island, WA, USA License Copyright, Hank Helm. Sizes small medium
Title Sir Charles Lemon Photo By Yves Tuset Date Taken Location own garden Brest, Brittany, France License Copyright, Yves Tuset. Sizes small Description planted in 1987
Title Sir Charles Lemon Photo By Hank Helm Date Taken Location Hank Helm Garden, Bainbridge Island, WA, USA License Copyright, Hank Helm. Sizes small medium Description over thirty years and fifteen feet tall
Title Sir Charles Lemon Photo By Hank Helm Date Taken Location Hank Helm Garden, Bainbridge Island, WA, USA License Copyright, Hank Helm. Sizes small medium
Title Sir Charles Lemon Photo By Hank Helm Date Taken March 16, 2013 Location Hank Helm Garden, Bainbridge Island, WA, USA License Copyright, Hank Helm. Sizes small medium
Title Sir Charles Lemon Photo By Garth Wedemire Date Taken April 21, 2005 Location Mike Bale License CC BY 4.0 Attribution Sizes small medium
Title Sir Charles Lemon Photo By Susan Lightburn Date Taken September 17, 2012 Location Art Lightburn Garden, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada License CC BY 4.0 Attribution Sizes small medium Description in the afternoon sun
Title Sir Charles Lemon Photo By Susan Lightburn Date Taken September 17, 2012 Location Art Lightburn Garden, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada License CC BY 4.0 Attribution Sizes small medium Description in the afternoon sun