Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ (23/05/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to dappled shade
Flowering period: Late spring to early summer
Soil: Moist, well drained, acidic
Eventual Height: 2m
Eventual Spread: 2m
Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Family: Ericaceae
Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ is a slow growing deciduous shrub with a bushy rounded habit. Its mid/ dark leathery green leaves are elliptic with entire margins, up to 10cm long and 4cm broad. Its leaves turn orange/ red in autumn before they fall. Its orange flowers are funnel shaped, up to 7.5cm across and appear in groups of up to 12. The fruit of the plant is dry capsule.
Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ Flower (23/05/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’, commonly known as Azalea ‘Golden Eagle’, is native to southeast Europe and southwest Asia. It has become naturalised in parts of the UK.
The etymological root of the binomial name Rhododendron is derived from the Greek rodon ‘a rose’ and dendron ‘a tree’.
The landscape architect may find Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ useful as an attractive late spring flowering shrub suitable for planting in soils with an acid pH.
Ecologically, Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ flowers are attractive to pollinating insects. Its flowers produce a toxic nectar which, when collected by bees, produce a poisonious honey.
Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ Leaf (23/05/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
The Royal Horticultural Society has given Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 2012.
Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ prefers moist, humus rich, well-drained soils. It prefers an acid pH of soil. It dislikes wet soils.
Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ requires little maintenance. Any necessary pruning should be carried out after flowering.
Landscape Architecture
