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Rhododendron Polarnacht / Polar Night

WAMSWAMS Posts: 1,938
I am not too clear on what the difference is between rhododendrons and azaleas, but the beautiful purple one called Polarnacht or Polar Night is what I would like to buy.

Can anyone recommend a place to buy it in England, please?
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  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,673
    edited November 2022
    Millais are specialist growers of Rhododendrons.

    https://www.rhododendrons.co.uk/rhododendron-polarnacht/p1405

    Others nurseries also sell it...

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/nurseries-search-result


    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,012
    edited November 2022
    Try googling "rhoododendron polarnacht".   You might find a source near Luton.  It is always better, to visit and choose.

    Rhododendron is now the genus name for rhodos and azaleas.  Azaleas come in two types: small leaved, small flowered evergreen (aka japanese) and deciduous.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • WAMSWAMS Posts: 1,938
    Thank you, both. The reviews for Millais look outstanding, @Silver surfer- that's just what I wanted!

    Unfortunately, we don't seem to have many quality nurseries around this way, apart from Harkness roses over in Hitchin, @bédé, but thank you. That's good info about rhododendrons. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    Millais is a very highly regarded nursery , so you can be sure of good service there @WhereAreMySecateurs :)
    All are Rhodos, but the care and requirements are largely the same for them all, so it's just one of those slightly pernickerty things. The Japanese evergreen ones will take a lot more sun than the rest though. Most Rhodos are evergreen, but many azaleas aren't. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Millais are specialist growers of Rhododendrons!

    Tricky...rather technical...which is why I did not answer earlier.
    Rhododendron vs Azalea

    Quote from www...
    "Botanically speaking, azaleas and rhododendrons belong to the genus Rhododendron, with azaleas identified as a subspecies of the rhododendron family.  According to botanists, there are not enough botanical differences between the two to classify them as two separate species. The American Rhododendron Society describes the plants this way: “All azaleas are rhododendrons but not all rhododendrons are azaleas.”

    "Stamens —   True rhododendrons have ten or more stamens, which amounts to two per lobe. Azaleas have five stamens, or one per lobe."
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,012
    I used to buy From Millais.  They are sound.  I stopped buying when honey fungus struck.  I also used to buy from Hydon and Reuthe.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • WAMSWAMS Posts: 1,938
    Thanks again... received this from Millais today and counted 29 buds.


  • AthelasAthelas Posts: 915
    So glad you got one @WAMS!

    I just bought one from my local garden centre, about the same size and number of buds (sadly lost 2 from jamming it in the car)… we can exchange notes when they flower 
    Cambridgeshire, UK
  • WAMSWAMS Posts: 1,938
    That would be fab, @Athelas! Shame about the lost buds... you mourn every single one, don't you... but it would be lovely to compare pics. So curious about the colour!
  • AthelasAthelas Posts: 915
    Yes, wondering exactly what the purple will look like! Seems one of those difficult shades to capture on camera

    Here’s mine, for baseline purposes  :)


    Cambridgeshire, UK
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