Rhododendron 'First Blush'

A RSBG introduction. This is a plant that was brought to the RSBG from one of the old British collections many, many years ago as the species tanastylum. It obviously is not that species and is instead, probably a hybrid of barbatum x arboreum. We have long admired this plant for its beautiful and long-lasting flowers that appear quite early in the season, well before most other rhododendrons. This cultivar is often in bloom for four to five weeks beginning in early March. It bears a large rounded inflorescence of bright pink-purple flowers set atop whorls of deep green foliage. The bark, while not quite as smooth and glossy as that of its parent barbatum, is still quite attractive. The name of this cultivar is a bit of a play on words relative to the reputation of our organization, among other things.