Rhododendrons

Rhododendron 'Neston'

Hybrid deciduous azalea

Parentage unknown

A Ness Holt Hybrid

H6

Shrub 2.0 × 1.0m in 13 years

Flowers: Loose trusses of 8-10 narrowly tubular funnel-shaped, single flowers. Flowers are 50mm long × 40mm wide, with 5 wavy-edged lobes; deep pink in bud, opening white flushed light purplish pink inside, outside strong purplish pink; a blotch of light yellow suffused over the dorsal lobe; stamens deep pink; calyx 5mm long, brilliant yellow-green

June-July

Not scented

Foliage: Leaves are elliptic, 20-55mm long × 7-18mm wide; apiculate at apex, cuneate at base, margins decurved, slightly glossy green, young foliage flushed bronze. Good autumn leaf colour. Deciduous

Other information: A Denny Pratt hybrid raised in 1986 as DP 129A; registered by Ness Botanic Gardens in 1999. Unlikely to be commercially available