Rhododendron 'Bengalen'

Rhododendron 'Bengal' (also sold as 'Bengalen') is a low evergreen cushion that catches fire in spring. Its funnel-shaped, brilliant scarlet flowers gather four or five to a loose truss and sit right on top of the small, glossy, dark green leaves.

Plant it where a bright accent is needed in partial shade: at the front of a heather planting, along a path, in a rock garden or in a large container. It creeps low and rises only 0.1-0.5 m in 5-10 years, so it stays far lower and neater than the Japanese azaleas it is often grown beside.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: The foliage here is evergreen: the shrub never strips bare for winter and keeps its glossy dark green cushion even in December.
• Dimensions: An evergreen cushion: at 10 years it stands 0.1-0.5 m high and just as wide.
• Hardiness: Hardy down to -20 °C (USDA zone 6).
• Flowering: In April and May bright red funnel-shaped flowers open in clusters of four to five.
• Light: It is happiest in partial shade with a northerly or westerly aspect, in a sheltered spot away from frost pockets.
• Soil: It loves an acidic, moist but well-drained soil - clay, loam or sand generously enriched with humus.
• Watering: Water regularly: the roots sit close to the surface and dislike drying out.
• Care: Mulch each year with leaf mould; pruning is minimal, just tidying up.
• Landscape use: A low evergreen accent for the front of a bed, for rockeries and small shaded gardens.
• Origin: A German repens hybrid raised by Dietrich Hobbie in 1960 from 'Essex Scarlet' crossed with a rhododendron of the forrestii Repens Group.