Description and Uses
Rhododendron ponticum (Pontic rhododendron) is a
temperate
shrub from
North West Europe . It is mainly grown for its
ornamental crops
, which have a
short shelf life. The crop is harvested by
hand picking. It starts flowering after
4 -
9 years. The yield will be
0, but in its top season there will be a yield of
0. Other crop types include;
mulch, ornamental, poison herbicide, . The
{missing data} is used as
beverage . The
flower is used as "
{missing data} " with
grayanotoxin (1 -
2) as its significant
phytochemical. There is
{missing data} extracted by
{missing data} from the
shrub's
{missing data} yielding
0 -
{missing data} oil. The
shrub's wood is called
{missing data} and has a density of
500 -
700 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the
shrub's growing speed is
slow, it's energetic value is
3800 ckal/kg and the wood's drying speed is
medium. After
60 years the
shrub can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal.
Rhododendron ponticum has a lifespan of
100 years.
Environmental limitations
The shrub is
3 meters tall with a crown of
2 meters wide. The
shrub prefers a planting distance of
50 cm and a row distance of
50 cm. It is
slow growing and
shade tolerant.
Rhododendron ponticum has a
shallow root-system and it has symbiotic associations with the
fungi
(ericoid-mycorrhizae). It is
not able to fix nitrogen with
"any bacteria. The name(s) or string of bacteria include(s)
"not applicable ". The
shrub's flower-morphology is
hermaphroditic and is pollinated by
bumble bees.
Rhododendron ponticum is
evergreen and
not allelopathic and has
no thorns.
Rhododendron ponticum thrives in an altitude of
0 to
1200 meters above sea-level
(temperate). The minimum temperature is
-30°C; optimally between
10 -
24°C. The optimal rainfall is
1350
mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between
600 -
1500mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between
5.0 -
6.0 in a soil texture of
sand. To salt it is
intolerant to wind
intolerant and to fire
intolerant.
Pests and Diseases
Rhododendron ponticum is susceptible to the following pests:
. And it's susceptible to the following diseases:
(missing data) ,
,
.
Seed Propagation
Seeds are
stratificant and can be stored for
20 months. There are approximative
175000
seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed:
{missing data}
