Seven new rhododendron cultivars have been created in our nursery

Three of the deciduous cultivars – ‘Ārija’, ‘Dārza elpa’ and ‘Lapsaste’ – were created from the hybrid heritage left by Professor Rihards Kondratovičs. The professor spent 60 years researching the rhododendron genus, creating more than 1,000 rhododendron hybrids during his lifetime, from which 137 outdoor rhododendron and 26 greenhouse azalea cultivars have emerged to date.

The cultivar ‘Ārija’ has fragrant, light pink, double flowers arranged in spherical inflorescences. It is characterized by a strong-growing shrub that reaches a height of 2.8 m.

‘Dārza Elpa’ is a profusely flowering cultivar with rosy, fragrant flowers with a distinctive orange tinge on the upper petals. This variety is named after the garden enthusiasts’ association.

The name of the cultivar ‘Lapsaste’ was inspired by the orange-pink color of the flowers, which resembles the red tail of a fox. The variety has very good winter hardiness, so it is suitable for planting throughout Latvia.

The author of three elepidote and one deciduous rhododendron cultivar is Gunita Riekstiņa, who has been engaged in rhododendron breeding since 2000.

The name of the cultivar ‘Ābeļzieds’ was created at the suggestion of Edīte Kaufmane, a scientist at the leading Latvian vegetable and fruit growing research center – the Institute of Horticulture, Doctor of Biological Sciences, as a tribute to all the excellent breeders of the institute. It is an elepidote rhododendron with flowers in a soft pink color, which blooms in late May, early June. The adult shrub reaches a height of 2 m.

‘Zigis’ is an elepidote rhododendron variety with light purple flowers. It is characterized by very expressive, dark spots on the upper petals.

‘Lettonia’s Roberts Rūsis’ was named after the patron Roberts Rūsis at the suggestion of the University of Latvia Foundation. He was a member of the board of the Philistine Assistance Society of the student corporation “Lettonia” and supported students with scholarships for many years. He passed away in 2023. The cultivar has dark green, evergreen leaves and bright purple flowers with yellow-green spots on the upper petals.

The deciduous rhododendron cultivar ‘Mežtaka’ blooms in late May and early June with bright yellow, delicately fragrant, double flowers in spherical inflorescences. Its name was inspired by the popular hiking route ‘Mežtaka’. It is part of the European long-distance hiking route in the Baltic States, which leads through the forests of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.