|
Fifty
Years of
Testing and Breeding
Rhododendrons
in Nova Scotia
By
Donald L. Craig
Article
#1
From
the AHRS journal May 2003
A
permanent printed record of the history of the Kentville Research Stations
rhododendron breeding programme does not exist. As I am the only one that
has the information I hope that
this article will document
its beginning in 1952 and step by step development up to my retirement in
1983. Over time our project revealed much new information about the
diversity of the genus Rhododendron - its forms, habits, adaptability and
great spectrum of colour.
The endorsement of our work by the public and media was a source of
inspiration. I hope that this report will be useful to the home gardener and
anyone contemplating a similar programme, be it large or small. John Weagles
very generous contribution to the organization and presentation of this
article is acknowledged with sincere thanks.
Don L. Craig
Nova
Scotia is a 544 km. long, 80 km. wide peninsula between the 43rd
and 47th degree north latitudes. It is surrounded by the Atlantic
Ocean and barely joined to New Brunswick and the rest of North America by a
narrow isthmus. Kentville is located in the agriculturally rich Annapolis
Valley, which is approximately 100 km. long and 16 km. wide. The south and
north mountains running west to east protect the Valley, creating a pocket
where tree fruits, berry crops and ornamentals thrive. The Bay of Fundy,16
km. to the north, modifies the climate. Halifax, the provincial capital, is
107 km. east of Kentville on the Atlantic coast and has quite a different
climate.
The
Valley is in Plant Hardiness Zone 5b; the extreme western end of Nova Scotia
and much of the coast Zone 6a, southern coastal area 6b (with a few parts
perhaps even 7a or better); and the interior 5a.
Weather data for Kentville for a 10-year period shows a minimum low of
-23C (-9F), which occurred once in December, -24C (-11F) once in
January, -27C (-17F) once in February and -20C (-4F) once in March. Winter
temperatures can fluctuate from a low of -18C (0F) to above freezing in a
24-hour period. The climate is strictly maritime with snow, rain, wind,
frost and moderate temperatures which can shift rapidly in winter. The
Valley is considerably hotter and drier than coastal areas but can boast
good deep soil.
The Beginning
In
the beginning there were no plans to do anything more than make the vista
more presentable when approaching the Kentville Research Station building
complex. The approach to this view was over a pond and its large weeping
willow. The banking behind the
pond faces north forming a semi-amphitheatre some 30 meters high and 120
meters long. The banking was a mess of brambles and weed trees which when
removed brought order out of chaos. The only gem was an old but small
planting of “ironclad” rhododendrons (probably planted around 1920).
They had grown well so the obvious thing was to plant more. Thus the search
for plant material and knowledge had begun.
We were starting from scratch.
Securing Plants
The
first attempt to secure plants occurred in November 1952 when I took 200
cuttings from the Station’s “ironclads” and to my surprise most of
them rooted. In due time a listing of rhododendron species seed available
from the Sweden Gothenburg Botanical Garden came to my attention. At this
point it dawned on me that this could serve as a starting point for a
collection of species and cultivars. In
April 1953 we received seed of species from B. Lindquist at Gothenburg who
had just returned from Northern Japan, this thanks to our connection Dr. I.
Granhall at the Balsgård fruit Institute in Fjälkestad, Sweden. Presumably
a few were collected in Northern Japan: concinnum,
fargesii, fauriei, fauriei var.
rufescens, ferrugineum, flavum, hippophaeoides, hirsutum, insigne, intermedium,
longesquamatum, luteum, ponticum, schlippenbachii, searsiae, smirnowii,
tschonoskii, vaseyi and viscosum
(as well as a catawbiense hybrid, Gladiolus
primulinus, G. palustris and Chrysanthemum cinearifolium). And so we proceeded to produce plants.
In terms of winter survival and plant quality fauriei and schlippenbachii
were by far the best performers. Summer heat was a limiting factor for some
while winter cold probably got the others.
From then on we made many contacts for plants and information. The
search extended to four nurseries on the U.S. west coast including Greer
Gardens in Eugene, Oregon; Van Veen’s and Bovee’s Nurseries
in Portland, Oregon. On the east coast we procured plants from Shamarello
& Sons, Euclid, Ohio; Warren Baldsieffen in New Jersey; Tingle Nursery,
Maryland and David Leach in Pennsylvania. In England the Knaphill Nursery,
Surrey and the Goldsworth Nursery in Woking supplied material. In Sweden the
Gothenburg Botanical Garden and in Canada Woodland Nursery, Mississauga,
Ontario and later Bayport Plant Farm in Bayport, Nova Scotia topped of the
collection. The core of the Research Station’s plantings came from
these sources and, with the exception of most of the species from Sweden,
the survival rate and plant performance of most plants from these sources
was very satisfactory. By 1955, 42 beds had been prepared and planted; by 1957,
545 rhododendrons and azaleas were in permanent positions and by 1975, 50
beds contained 1000 rhododendrons and azaleas.
My Position
My
position at the Research Station was that of a research scientist heading up
the “Crop Section”, which included ornamentals. My specific task was to
develop a research programme for berry crops. Two years of graduate studies
at the University of New Hampshire provided an opportunity to specialize in
plant breeding. I am still involved in plant breeding as a hobby.
Why a Programme
Once
involved with the initial Kentville rhododendron plantings, I had an
opportunity over time to visit many of the world famous rhododendron
gardens. My journeys took me from Selegers Moor in Adliswil, Switzerland to
the Dunedin Botanical Garden in New Zealand. Points in between included Kew,
Exbury, Great Windsor Park, Savill, Wisley and Stourhead all in England. A
transfer to the Scottish Horticultural Research Institute in Dundee in 1963
for a year’s doctorate work enabled me to roam at will from the Cox garden
at Glencarse to Inverewe in the north west with Brodick Castle, Crathes and
Sherriffs in between. of course the Edinburgh Botanical Garden was revisited
several times. The Bodnant Garden in Wales was wonderful. In the US my
visits included numerous East Coast, West Coast and Virginia gardens. In
Canada, Vineland, Ontario and British Columbia beckoned me several times.
I
pursued the Kentville programme because I wanted others to see and learn
about these wonderful plants that I was privileged to see in so many of the
world’s best gardens. Each
garden visited was an invitation for me to come back to Kentville and
attempt to improve the plantings. Sufficient
money and labour were in the end critical factors that could not be
overcome.
George Swain
The
rhododendron programme initiated in 1952 was nicely underway when the late
George Swain joined the Station’s staff in 1957. It was his gift of plant
knowledge and landscaping that was mainly responsible for the numerous
plantings, which became the Station’s showpieces. The collaborative
breeding of Swain and Craig produced 14 cultivars.
Swain
resigned in 1967, the year of the Station’s first Rhododendron Sunday. The
rhododendron project reverted to my care and the tradition of having a
Rhododendron Sunday has continued.
A
conservative estimate of the number of people that viewed the plantings from
1967 to 1983 was in excess of 100,000.
The
success of the Station in determining the adaptability and suitability of
many rhododendron cultivars and species was a factor in the decision made in
1972 to form the Rhododendron Society of Canada. By 1977 the Atlantic
Chapter was formed by founding members Barbara Hall, Aileen Meagher, Walter
Ostrom, Dick Steele, George Swain, John Weagle and myself and now numbers
well over 200 members. Rhododendron Sunday created a surge in rhododendron
plantings about the province. If success can be measured in awards, there
can be no doubt about the achievements of the Station which prior to my
retirement in 1983 accumulated 16 major and 200 first, second and third
class ribbons at national and regional flower shows. The popularity of
rhododendrons in the province still climbs to this day and the wide range of
cultivars available in the province is astounding.
Dick Steele
For
many years Dick Steele, acknowledged as Canada’s foremost rhododendron and
azalea authority, has very generously given of his talents and knowledge of
rhododendrons through the regional and national societies and through public
speaking, radio, TV and the media. His firm belief in so doing is that the
world can be a more beautiful world for humanity if more people can be
encouraged to become involved in the culture of ornamental plants. To this
end, the Kentville Research Station, my own garden and those of many others
have been the beneficiary of his philosophy and generosity.
During
the 1953 to 1983 period the Kentville plantings progressed from a small to a
large collection of display beds containing some 1000 rhododendrons and
azaleas. In addition to assisting in this part of the programme he
encouraged and assisted the breeding programme with planting material,
pollen, knowledge and advice.
Capt.
Steele’s contributions helped
in making the Kentville plantings a major attraction for the public. The
display of many cultivars and species became the largest in Eastern Canada
affording the public an opportunity to see at first hand the diversity of
plant form, flower and foliage quality and colour.
Radcliffe Pike
Another
notable contributor to the Kentville programme was the late Radcliffe Pike of
Lubec, Maine whom I met in 1951 at the University of New Hampshire graduate
school. His knowledge of plants was amazing and his enthusiasm knew no
bounds. I am certain that much of
my enthusiasm for rhododendrons came via Rad.
I
recall memorable trips with Rad to the Arboretum at Jamaica Plains,
Massachusetts and to the Reefe Point Garden in Bar Harbor. It was at Reefe
Point that I was to view the hardiest and best R.
fortunei specimen that he knew.
Rad crossed this fortunei with a
superior selection of R. smirnowii.
Pike’s records of the New Hampshire rhododendron
and azalea breeding programme state that this smirnowii
came via “Reefe Point Gardens, Bar Harbour, Maine. Second generation in
Maine came from plants from Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh Scotland.
The fortunei from seed from Edinburgh Botanic Gardens.” At a later date Rad sent a number of the seedlings of his fortunei
x smirnowii cross to Kentville where they developed into very large
and beautiful showpieces.
Leslie Hancock
The
late Leslie Hancock of Mississauga, Ontario, the very well known nurseryman
and plant breeder, was also a wonderful supporter of the Kentville
programme. Like Pike, he was a book of plant knowledge and acknowledged as
one of Canada’s foremost rhododendron authorities. Through his tireless
efforts, the Rhododendron Society of Canada came into being in 1972. It was
indeed an honour to have been asked to serve as a founding director of the
Canadian Society and to serve as President (1984-85).
Leslie
sent many plants to Kentville including seedlings from R.
fortunei crossed with R.
smirnowii. They were planted with the Pike plants where they have
performed wonderfully well.
Cultivar Testing and Breeding
I
firmly believe that cultivar evaluation is absolutely necessary as an
adjunct to breeding for improvement. In the Research Station strawberry
breeding programme (1952-83) many cultivars were evaluated. We made many
crosses utilizing cultivars from Germany, England, New York state,
California, and Canada for their desirable genetic traits, as well as the
wide genetic base they provided. Thousands of seedlings were fruited from
which eight outstanding selections were chosen for naming and release. Their
acceptance has been phenomenal.
Using
the same approach for rhododendrons we had by 1975 evaluated 81 species and
170 rhododendron and azalea cultivars. Evaluation means a yearly rating of
winter hardiness, bloom date, colour, plant and flower quality. We used the
hardiness rating system developed by the American Rhododendron Society where
H1 is hardy to -32C (-26F), H2 to -26C (-15F), H3
to -21C (-6F).
By
1983, 234 parental combinations had been made, 15,500 seedlings produced and
flowered, 94 selections made and 14 of the 94 named and registered.
The
breeding philosophy was the same as that used for the strawberry; mainly
that a relatively small number (approx. 100) of seedlings will reveal the
value of a specific cross. Parents vary greatly in how well they combine
with one another. It is called ”specific combining ability”. If they
combine well the cross can be repeated on a larger scale; many selections
have been made from 100 to 200 seedlings or less. Superior parental
appearance does not guarantee superior combining ability.
Parents must be tested first.
Over
the years many of the Kentville seedlings were grown in the Station’s
fields where they were exposed to all of the weather stresses such as wind,
cold, no shade and no irrigation.
Some were also grown in ground beds, others in ground beds under a lath
shade canopy. With the exception of the very early crosses, which were made
in a glasshouse, crosses were made on plants growing outdoors.
First Crosses Made 1958
That
Swain and I should become involved in a rhododendron breeding programme was
inevitable. George had success in breeding commercial snapdragons in Ontario
and I was fresh from graduate school where the University of New Hampshire
Dept. of Horticulture was strongly focused on plant breeding. I was also
very much involved with Kentville’s strawberry and red raspberry breeding
programme.
Swain
made the first crosses in 1958. Parents involved were ‘Dr. Dresselhuys’, R. smirnowii and R.
catawbiense album Glass.
Inter-crossing the three in a glasshouse with their reciprocals produced 537
seedlings. These seedlings were grown in an open station field fully exposed
to the elements. They grew
well, flowered and were all pink, as one would expect. They were also very
winter hardy. Fifteen were selected and one was named Gabriel (‘Dr.
Dresselhuys’ by R. smirnowii).
Several were sent to the Fredericton, New Brunswick Research Station (Zone
5A) where they performed very well in that very cold climate.
After
this first year of crossing we set out our breeding objectives which were to
produce rhododendrons sufficiently hardy for the colder regions of Atlantic
Canada, compact enough to be useful for landscaping modern homes, a good
range of flower colours, and early, mid and late season flowering. Tolerance
to mildew infection was a criterion for azaleas. Many of the azalea
cultivars now available are mildew susceptible while others are not. We
crossed tolerant cultivars and had good results in terms of producing
tolerant seedlings. Generous in saving, quick to discard is a breeding
mantra which should be recited daily by the aspiring breeder.
Kentville Rhododendron Cultivars
*Royal Horticultural Society Certificate of International Registration.
Cultivar
- Cornwallis (Syn. Acadia) (R*)
Parentage
- R. fortunei, open-pollinated
Breeder
- seed via Schumacher, Sandwich, Massachusetts.
Introduced
- 1973, Registered - 1977, D.L.
Craig
Habit
- large upright, Colour - dawn
pink, Exposure - light shade
Hardiness
- zone 5b, Bloom time - mid-season
Large
deep pink flowers borne in compact trusses well above the foliage are
pleasantly scented. The throat is flecked oxblood.
Cultivar
- Fundy (Syn. Evangeline) (R*)
Parentage
- R. fortunei x R. smirnowii
Breeder
- Hancock, Mississauga, Ontario.
Introduced
- 1973, Registered - 1977, D.L.
Craig
Habit
- very large, upright, Colour - neyron rose
Exposure
- light shade, Hardiness - zone 5b
Bloom
time - mid-season
A
very large rhododendron and at 40 years old the plant is over 14 feet high.
Large rose opal flowers borne in large trusses above the foliage are
pleasantly scented. An outstanding rhododendron that comes into its own in
8-10 years. Can exhibit yellowish foliage in excessive sun even on the
Scotian coast.
Cultivar
- Gabriel (R*)
Parentage
- Dr. Dresselhuys x R. smirnowii
Breeder
- George Swain
Introduced
- 1973, Registered - 1977, D.L.
Craig
Habit
- tall, Colour - rhodamine pink, Exposure - light shade
Hardiness
- zone 5a, Bloom time - mid-season
The
hardiest Research Station introduction, performing well as far north as
Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Cultivar
- Minas Grand Pré (Syn. Grand Pré)
(R*)
Parentage
- R. catawbiense var. compactum
x R. williamsianum
Breeder
- George Swain
Introduced
- 1973, Registered - 1996, D.L.
Craig
Habit
- semi-dwarf, compact, Colour - phlox pink, Exposure - light shade
Hardiness
- zone 5b, Bloom time - mid-season
An
outstanding semi-dwarf plant with small attractive roundish leaves which
flush a copper colour similar to that of its pollen parent. Loose attractive
clusters of attractive bell-shaped pink flowers. A must for every garden in
hardiness zone 5b or milder. It seems very happy in the garden of Peter Cox in Glencarse,
Scotland.
Cultivar
- Bellefontaine (R*)
Parentage
- R. fortunei x R. smirnowii
Breeder
- R. Pike, Lubec, Maine
Introduced
- 1975, Registered - 1977, D.L.
Craig
Habit
- very large upright, Colour - rose opal, Exposure - light shade
Hardiness
- zone 5b, Bloom time - mid-season
Judged
by many as the Research Stations outstanding introduction. A seedling from
the same cross that produced Fundy. Very
tall (14+ feet) in 40 years. Pleasantly scented rose-opal flowers are borne
in large trusses above the foliage. Very good plant form but only comes into
its own after 8 to 10 years.
Cultivar
- Minas Peace (R*)
Parentage
- [(R. catawbiense var. album Glass x R.
degronianum) x R. yakushimanum]
Breeder
- D.L. Craig, Introduced - 1982, Registered - 1998, D.L. Craig
Habit
- medium tall, Colour - white suffused pink, Exposure - light shade
Hardiness
- zone 5b, Bloom time - mid-season
This
is one of my favourite rhododendrons. The excellent foliage has a thick
covering of attractive grey-orange indumentum on the leaf undersides. This
habit is semi-compact. The flower buds, rose pink, open to a suffused pink,
striped a deeper pink on the reverse of each petal. Flower trusses compact
and above the foliage. A plant for all year round.
Cultivar
- Minas Maid (R*)
Parentage
- Nova Zembla x R. yakushimanum
Breeder
- George Swain
Introduced
- 1979, Registered - 1979, D.L.
Craig
Habit
- medium tall, compact, Colour - red-purple
Exposure
- light shade, Hardiness - zone 5b
Bloom
time - early mid-season
This
most reliable rhododendron possesses a very good level of winter hardiness.
Compact growth habit. Basic colour is red-purple. The ball-shaped truss is
held above the foliage. Foliage quality is very good. Very floriferous.
Cultivar
- Minas Snow (R*)
Parentage
- Cunninghams White x R. yakushimanum
Breeder
- George Swain
Introduced
- 1981, Registered - 1998, D.L.
Craig
Habit
- medium tall, Colour - white
Exposure
- full light, Hardiness - zone 5b (plant), 6a (flower buds)
Bloom
time - mid-season
Compact
growth habit and dark green foliage. Underside lightly covered with a tan
coloured indumentum. Flower quality is outstanding. Flower and bud pure
white. Flower trusses held well above the foliage. Minas Snow is highly
regarded as an excellent white on the West Coast and eastern seaboard of the
USA. Inexplicably it sometimes
exhibits bud damage in early December on the Scotian coast.
Cultivar
- Minas Rose Dawn (R*)
Parentage
- (Nova Zembla x R. yakushimanum)
x (R. catawbiense var. album Glass x Elizabeth)
Breeder
- D.L. Craig
Introduced
- Ag. Research Station, 1982, Registered
- 1997, A.R. Brooks
Habit
- medium height, wider than tall, Colour - red-purple
Exposure
- light shade, Hardiness - zone 5a, Bloom time - mid-season
Flower
trusses compact and above the foliage. Buds red-purple, very attractive,
open funnel shape. The petal edges are wavy and darker than the main body;
extensive red-purple spotting on inside of dorsal petal. Very floriferous.
Cultivar
- George Swain (R*)
Parentage
- Goldsworth Yellow x (R. catawbiense var. album Glass x Theresa)
Breeder
- D.L. Craig, Introduced - 1988, Registered - 1998, D.L. Craig
Habit
- medium tall, compact, Colour - ivory yellow
Exposure
- light shade, Hardiness - zone 5b, Bloom time - early
Early
flowering, ivory yellow of value because of its earliness and good
semi-compact habit. Globular dome-shaped truss held well above the foliage.
Cultivar
- Mary Craig
Parentage
- Goldsworth Yellow x R. degronianum
Breeder
- George Swain, Introduced - 1981
Habit
- semi-dwarf, compact, Colour - pink, buds dark pink
Exposure
- light shade, Hardiness - zone 5b
Bloom
time - early
A
good semi-dwarf compact plant. Flower buds dark pink opening light pink.
Flower trusses held above the foliage.
Cultivar
- Sue Gunn (R*)
Parentage
- (Nova Zembla x R. yakushimanum)
x (R. catawbiense var. album Glass x Elizabeth)
Breeder
- D.L. Craig, Introduced - 1992, Registered - 1992, D.L. Craig
Habit
- medium tall, compact, Colour - red-purple
Exposure
- light-medium shade, Hardiness - zone 5a
Bloom
time - mid-season
Spectacular
in terms of its bright showy colour which is purplish-red. Wavy flower
margins. Black spotting on the dorsal lobe. Very floriferous with a dense
growth habit; it puts on a good show even from a distance.
Cultivar
- Minas Princess (R*)
Parentage
- open-pollinated Ghent azalea hybrid
Selected
by D.L. Craig from seed via Schumacher, Sandwich, Massachusetts
Introduced
- 1982, Registered - 1998, D.L.
Craig
Habit
- upright, tall, Colour - pink, scented
Exposure
- full sun to light shade, Hardiness - zone 5a
Bloom
time - mid-season
This
is an excellent azalea. The flowers are very attractive, the scent very
pleasant.
Cultivar
Minas Flame (R*)
Parentage
- Gibraltar x Balzac
Breeder
- George Swain, Selected by - D.L. Craig
Introduced
- 1982, Registered - 1998, D.L.
Craig
Habit
- upright, tall, Colour - orange - red
Exposure
- full sun - light shade, Hardiness - zone 5b
Bloom
time - mid-season
This
hybrid has the appearance of most Knaphill azalea cultivars and is a strong
growing plant. It has a good level of mildew resistance. Its orange-red
flowers are attractive.
N.B.
Many of these
hybrids may require more sun on the Scotia coast where fog is prevalent.
In
1980 I selected and named a seedling azalea Minas Gold because it was mildew
resistant at the time and for a period afterwards. It later, however, proved
that this resistance was not present and so I discarded it. Perhaps Minas
Gold was an escape or another strain of mildew caught up with it. Goldflake,
for example, is a vastly superior cultivar.
N.B.
The
Kentville hybrids as well as a few important breeding plants can be viewed
on the Chapter Website at:
http://www.atlanticrhodo.org/hybrids/f_hyb.html
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Article
#2
From
the AHRS journal October 2003.
Conclusion
My Favorite Kentville Cultivar
You might
ask me to name my favorite Kentville bred rhododendron. Without question it
is ‘Minas Peace’. ‘Minas
Peace’ was entered as a numbered seedling in the Canadian Society 1976
Montreal flower show. The plant is semi-compact, leaves dark green, leaf
underside covered with thick grey-orange indumentum, flower buds rosy red
opening to white suffused pink with light rose stripes on the back of the
corolla, flower quality superb, compact trusses borne above the foliage. If
there were no flowers it would still be worth growing because of its form
and foliar quality. ‘Minas
Peace’ is more comfortable in Zone 6 than 5B. It was judged ‘Best’ in
the Montreal show.
The
first cultivars released received their names from Longfellow’s poem
Evangeline. The poem tells the story of the 1755 expulsion of the French
Acadians from the Grand Pré area some 16 km. east of Kentville.
The 3000
Acadians were herded onto British sailing ships; 900 homesteads in Grand Pré
alone burnt to the ground. They
sailed out of the tidal Minas Basin, which is part of the Bay of Fundy and
only a short distance from Grand Pré.
They were dispersed from New England to the West Indies. The most
fortunate were put off at Louisiana where they were welcomed by their own
race.
There
were only a few names in the poem so to keep the historical connection the
prefix Minas was used. Minas was a community not far from Grand Pré.
R.
lut
eum
Rhododendron luteum is a highly desirable deciduous azalea species.
Its yellow tubular/funnel shaped, long-lasting flowers have an exquisite
sweet fragrance which permeates the whole garden. Hailing from the Caucasus,
Turkey and several rather nearby areas it is no surprise that the experience
of RSCAR members is that many luteums are not terribly winter hardy
including most wild collected seed and the Rhododendron Species Foundations
named cultivar Golden Comet. Our good fortune was that Nova Scotia hardy
luteums came from the Lindquist seed received in 1953. Twenty-five seedlings
were produced. A few were planted along the top of the north facing banking
in the pond area. Being
over-shadowed they nonetheless flowered regularly but not well. Three more
were planted in a small bed fully exposed on the crest of the hill leading
to the picnic grounds; these flowered well but one was outstanding in
flowering, growth, vigour, plant quality and both bud and stem hardiness.
And so this outstanding luteum was a very valuable addition to Nova Scotia
gardens. A few years ago seeds of these good luteums were sent to the RSCAR
Seed Exchange and hopefully they have grown and flowered as well as those in
my own garden. I cannot comment on the fate of all twenty-five original
seedlings: the time lapse of 50 years is the culprit.
A Fundy - Bellefontaine Cultivar
Comparison
The
KRS cultivars Fundy and Bellefontaine were derived from the same cross and
so it is not surprising that they are similar in general appearance. Members
who have lost labels can easily confuse the two. Here are a few
distinguishing characteristics. Twenty-five to thirty year old plants of
both cultivars have reached a height of nearly 5 meters at the KRS and
elsewhere. Their plant forms are equally pleasing.
The main difference is that Bellefontaine is in full bloom 5 to 7
days earlier than Fundy. As well the new growth stems of Bellefontaine have
a rose colour epidermal colouring whereas Fundys stems are always green.
The flower colour of Bellefontaine is a lighter pink than Fundys.
Bellefontaines stigmas are dark red, Fundys are yellow. The yellow brown
blotch of both is much smaller on Bellefontaine.
The
mature height and form of these cultivars are ideal for spacious landscapes
but not for home foundation plantings.
Properly presented they are of exceptional beauty.
Looking Back, Positive and Negative Comments
In 1983,
the Kentville rhododendron programmes like similar programmes in Canada e.g.
Vineland, Ontario, the rose breeding programme at the Central Farm Ottawa,
came to a halt because of economic constraints, a shortage of money and
labour and because of the need to prioritize the region’s most pressing
horticultural needs. Breeding was terminated and the display beds relegated
to very minimal maintenance.
Positive
·
It was
demonstrated that with very minimal cost to establish and maintain, the
Kentville rhododendrons became an excellent public relations asset. Widely
known in Canada and the US by lectures, visitations, press and TV, it
brought pleasure and knowledge to thousands of people.
·
Rhododendron
Sunday held first in 1967. It is a very positive annual event providing the
public the opportunity to view the great varieties in plant form and
quality, season of flowering, flower colour, etc.
·
It
helped stimulate interest in rhododendrons so that today plant purchases in
Nova Scotia are at an all time high.
·
The
great value of deciduous azaleas such as the Knaphills
was demonstrated. When compared with rhododendrons the obvious thing is
their superior ability to survive in challenging winter climates.
·
Having
world experts such as Edmund de Rothschild and Robert Seleger visit the
Station to view the plantings and take part in discussions was a great
pleasure.
Negative
·
How unfortunate
it is that, as of 1983, the Kentville programme ceased to function in a
meaningful way.
·
Rhododendron
Sunday is no longer the major attraction it was.
·
The very
large number of new and improved rhododendrons are not on display for the
public.
·
A
much-needed re-organization and re-vitalization of the Kentville display
beds is still in limbo.
Do We Need a Breeding Programme?
Had
I known in 1952 what I knew in 1975 following 23 years of extensive testing of
cultivars and species I would not have become involved in a breeding
programme. In 1952 I did not know with certainty the names of the cultivars
in the Station’s lone planting. By
1975 there were 174 cultivars and 81 species that had been or were still
being tested. Many of these proved to be good performers (Agriculture
Canada Pub. 1303 revised 1981).
Breeding
with commercial aspirations is anything but easy especially for the breeder
with limited resources. The Kentville programme was very small. The naming
of 14 selections pales in comparison with that of the late Weldon Delp who
has registered 301 cultivars and the late David Leach 85. Both, like
Kentville, were breeding for winter hardiness. Leach’s facilities for
breeding in terms ofland, laboratories, manpower and money were more than
adequate; Kentville is very limited in comparison (Leach, ARS Jour. Vol. 41,
No. 4, 1987).
The
sheer number of introductions by Delp and Leach is mind-boggling. How does
one adequately test so many?
In my mind the numbers are excess beyond reason.
Adequate testing for regional adaptability was a real constraint for
breeders, especially small breeders such as the late Joseph Brueckner of
Mississauga, Ontario, and others.
Reporting
in his article “The Quest” (ARS Jour. V 36, No. 1) Leach states “There
followed next a group of hybrids of which too many were named perhaps
because they represented a success after so many failures”. Now that the
market is inundated with an endless number of new cultivars, I too realize
that we were in too big a rush to apply names to at least a few of our
introductions. Surely from among the many cultivars from Delp, Leach and
others there are new rhododendrons to more than satisfy most gardeners.
For
the moment the important thing is to have the public realize the wide range
of rhododendrons available for Zones 5 and 6. There are so many plant forms
to choose. Bloom dates can vary from May until mid July. The range of flower
and foliage colours has increased dramatically.
There is now a degree of winter hardiness in some species and
cultivars to make it possible to have success even under very severe winter
conditions.
Having
retired from the Research Station in 1983 I returned to the Station from
time to time until 1987 in order to evaluate seedlings, especially 1200
azaleas I produced from seed sent to the Station from Exbury in England. The
seed origin was “seed from the very best Exbury plants mainly the deep red
and yellows”. Only 16 were selected due to the high incidence of foliar
mildew. None were named.
More
Breeding and Testing at Sunny Brook Farm
In
1987 my daughter (Sue Gunn) and I initiated rhododendron plantings at her
232 year old home 9 km north of
Kentville. One acre of the 13 acre homestead is devoted to the plantings in
28 beds containing 52 azalea cultivars and 88 rhododendron cultivars plus
many companion plants such as Kalmia, Pieris, Calluna and dwarf evergreens.
We have also practised my “hobby” by growing 2816 seedlings from 73
parental combinations. Currently (2001) we are evaluating 113 selections
from these crosses; ‘Mist Maiden’ and ‘Besse Howells’ were common
contributors in many instances because of their winter hardiness, plant form
and quality. The same can be said of ‘Calsap’, ‘Janet Blair’ and
‘Scintillation’; indeed our first step was to cross ‘Janet Blair’
with ‘Calsap’ and ‘Scintillation’ with ‘Calsap’.
We grew 90 seedlings do each cross, selected the four best from each
and then inter-crossed them. By back-crossing with ‘Calsap’ its hardiness was added,
and the quality of ‘Janet Blair’ and ‘Scintillation’ were apparent
in the progeny. One resembling ‘Mrs. Furnival’ was a highlight of Spring
2002. Shammarello’s ‘Besse Howells’ has attributes worthy of
consideration - hardiness, compactness and semi dwarfness. From 18 yak x
‘Besse Howells’ seedlings we have four selections.
Similarly 13 of 95
seedlings of a cross of ‘Minas Rose Dawn’ x ‘Besse Howells’ are on
trial including my best red to date. SEL75-31, a 1971 cross of (‘Red
Head’ x yak) x (catalgla x ‘Elizabeth’) has a nice compact truss, the
colour of Nova Zembla, but measures only .9m high x 1.4m wide in 28 years.
Several years ago John Weagle was impressed with selection S.94-04
from our cross of [(‘Bellefontaine’ x degronianum)
x ‘Goldsworth’s Yellow’] S.80-07 x (aureum
x ‘Prelude’) BPT#80-5. The seed parent is an old KRS hybrid, very
compact and a pale yellow; the pollen parent is Captain Steeles best early
yellow. The hybrid is a compact
mound sporting dark yellow flowers and is now on trial. As well a sibling
which I feel is superior is being tested. We are not very concerned about
registration. The joy is in having them in our own garden.
Testing
During
my years at the Research Station one of my main interests was the evaluation
of any rhododendron or azalea cultivar or species that by definition should
be suitable for Zone 5A or 5B. I have now obtained a range of new material,
which was not tested at Kentville plus old standards for comparison
purposes. The so-called “news” are cultivars such as Leach’s Golden
Gala, Normandy, Swansdown and Cyprus; the Mezitt hybrids Henry’s Red, Jane
Abbot, Olga and Aglo; Beasely’s Top of the Mountain, Cherokee and Curahee;
others such as LeAnn and Bosley 1016.
Many
of the ‘new’ cultivars were obtained at the American Rhododendron
Society plant sales at the annual meetings at Eugene, Oregon, Williamsburg,
Virginia and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Our
garden has much greater exposure to sun and wind than the Kentville planting
thus another opportunity to rate winter damage to flower buds. This we did
for five consecutive years (1993-97) using scores of 4 for full flowering; 3
good flowering; 2 for scattered flowering and 1 for all buds killed.
Thirteen
cultivars had perfect scores of 4, 24 were 3 or better which is
satisfactory; the remainder had variable scores per year from 4 to 1
suggesting that in some years they would be less than satisfactory. None of
the azaleas scored less than 3; most were 4 or slightly less.
*
Winter
temperatures for Dec., Jan., Feb., and Mar. for the 5 years were no lower
than -24.9C (-13F) suggesting that all of the cultivars would fall within
the hardiness rating of H2 yet there was significant bud damage
to some cultivars in 1995 and 1996. It is worth noting that none of the
deciduous azaleas were seriously damaged.
The
rhododendron cultivar ‘Scintillation’ is acclaimed by many to be the
premier elepidote in the New England States. Its hardiness rating is H2.
Its performance at my summer cottage Sunnybrook, at the Research Station and
elsewhere suggested it is over rated, an indication that rating hardiness
involves complex plant and climatic functions.
At Sunnybrook near Chester Basin, Nova Scotia, my Scintillation growing
within 50 meters of the Atlantic Ocean performs very well when compared to
another in my home garden in the Annapolis Valley. Hardiness ratings
assigned to many other rhododendrons cannot be assumed to be totally
accurate. Pellet and Holt of Vermont state (Vermont News Release: 1-2, Dept.
of Plant and Soil Science, Burlington) that “the selection of hardy
rhododendrons should not be based solely on mid-winter cold hardiness
because the rate of hardiness development is an important consideration. The
hardiest evergreen rhododendron may be injured when minimum temperatures are
below -15C (5F) in November and early December”.
Rhododendron
cultivar evaluations at Sunnybrook have been very productive. We are now
aware of the value of numerous new cultivars in our garden as well as a
number that are not fully satisfactory. Among my favourites are ‘Henry’s
Red’, ‘Golden Gala’, ‘Swansdown’, ‘Normandy’, ‘Melusine La Fée’,
Bosely 1016, ‘Olga’, ‘Aglo’, ‘LeAnn’, ‘Francesca’ and of
course my own introductions. The data on date of full bloom are useful and
the minimum winter temperature information helps us to understand that low
temperatures in mid-winter are not the only factors causing damage to
rhododendron tissues.
We
take great pride in our garden, especially in view of having done it all by
ourselves. We are the gardeners. For 50 years the beauty of rhododendrons
and azaleas has surrounded me. I simply can never get enough.
N.B. Various Kentville hybrids can be purchased at Bayport
Plant Farm, Bayport, Lunenburg, NS. ‘Minas Grand Pré’ (aka ‘Grand Pré’)
is available in small sizes at
Blomidon Nurseries, Greenwich, NS, Lakeland Plant World, Dartmouth, NS,
Gerry’s Nursery, Centreville, NS and Murray’s Garden Centre, Portugal
Cove, NF.
*Reported
in RSCAR Newsletter May 1999.
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