Rhododendrons

[DizzyKipper]

I know they are OK for acid soil, but would they survive up here with the weather conditions? We're looking for shrubs to help act as windbreaks.

 

Thanks.

[Graeme_Storey]

I know nothing about plants, so I can't answer your question directly, but the pictures below are from a beautiful rhodi that my wife grew from a tiny cutting, over 12 years or so.

 

This was at our last house, in Westerloch, Lerwick. Very sheltered, but it grew very well - stunning flower heads too.

 

Best advice would be speak to James MacKenzie of Shetland Amenity Trust, because I know he is one of the most knowledgable folk in Shetland about plants in all Shetland situations. He will also know anyone else you could ask. The Amenity Trust are on Lerwick (01595) 694688

 

http://www.photos.co.uk/pics/8/r2.jpg

 

http://www.photos.co.uk/pics/8/r1.jpg

[MJ]

Rosa has an amazing collection some of which she got from inverewe (google it, the pictures are amazing)

[Girzie]

They do grow here. We have several different colours and sizes in our garden but I wouldn't use them as windbreaks. We use daisy bush, flowering currant, rosa rugosa (although that is very invasive and needs to be kept under control) and fuschia.

[DizzyKipper]

Thanks for your comments and lovely pics Graeme_Storey.

 

Girzie, do you have another name for the daisy bush?

 

We have a big Fuschia megallanica and a Ribes flowering currant but the leaves tend to get burnt by the wind above the 4ft wall :'(

[enkelt skapninger]

Leptospermum (waxflower) might be an option - some are coastal plants from Tasmania and will tolerate salt and wind pretty well.

 

The bees love them too.

[momo]

The latin name for the Daisy Bush is Olearia. It has leaves like holly but a more silvery green and is absolutely covered in white daisy flowers in summer. Have two in my garden and they are very tough. Berberis (Thunbergii atropurpurea) also does well in my garden, has purple leaves but also truly vicious thorns. Its easily available mail order. I also have Hawthorn which is doing fine. As the previous post said if you want windbreak shrubs with flowers the Hardy Fushia also does well here. Hebe’s & Rhododendrons will grow here but both do better with some shelter. Rosa Rugosa does creep a bit but the flowers smell lovely and I don’t find it too much trouble to pull out where I don’t want it. It is one of the few shrubs or trees that will still grow quite quickly if grown through grass. It is always better if you are starting a new hedge or planting a tree to clear the grass away from the base of the plant. I have two Hawthorns in my garden, planted at the same time & size. The one grown in the lawn is only two foot high and the one with the grass cleared from its base is six to seven foot tall. It really does make a big difference.