Purple Gem Rhododendron Issues
We planted a few purple gem rhododendron in the late spring of 2021. They did great in 2022, all blooming and growing larger.
Until November 2022, when 2 of them suddenly had issues. The first one died and the second has not really had any growth this year and looks paler green.
Those issues are now happening to 2 others this year and it happens suddenly. On July 20, they were ok.
Here is one on July 21. Generally healthy, but notice the yellow patches
And its getting worse by July 23. And another plant now has started the issue, but much worse
And worse by July 24
Still worse on July 25
As of July 29, both are getting more dead patches
Any idea why this keeps happening, especially so suddenly? And what can be done about it?
Please help.... and thank you in advance...
Comments (8)
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 months ago
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 months agoRelated Discussions
Uh-oh 'How to prune a half-dead Purple Gem' Part II
Comments (6)Usually sunburn is a winter problem and is on old leaves. If the sunburn is on new leaves, then it may be a nutrient problem. Wind and cold damage is indicated when the edges of the leaves become distorted and turn brown. This occurs frequently in plants that may be in a colder climate than recommended or in a location with severe exposure. Provide protection from winter winds and winter sun. Note, boron poisoning or fertilizer burn will create the same symptoms except uniformly over the plant rather than just on areas exposed to the sun and wind. Large leaved rhododendrons are susceptible to sunscald if the plants do not receive enough moisture before the soil freezes. The leaves curl in cold winter weather, exposing the central part of the leaf but not the edges, resulting in the area near the main vein becomes desiccated and turns brown. To prevent this, water plants thoroughly before the first hard frost, protect from drying winds, apply mulch, and locate in partial shade. Yellowing of leaves surfaces, often with brownish burned areas, occurring on leaves that are more exposed to sun, is caused by more sun exposure than the plant is able to tolerate. Some varieties need shade, while all plants that have been protected from direct sun will be tender until hardened off by gradual exposure to sun light. Possible solutions are to give the plant more shade or move it to a more protected site. Uniformly yellowish-green leaves is often just the need for more nitrogen. This will be more noticeable in the full sun. Some less sun tolerant varieties will always be light green in full sun. Here is a link that might be useful: How to grow rhododendrons....See MoreAdvice on my Purple Gem
Comments (4)It's quite odd that the green growth is only at the branch tips in a full sun location. Recent heavy rain should not have been a factor either because the new growth was initiated right after bloom. A slope can certainly help with drainage but is not a guarantee. Even poor dainage, though, should not have caused the kind of growth seen in the photo. When the two plants were growing well, did they put out new growth from the base without the bare centers now seen? I'm also not sure if there are lots of completely bare branches or if they are mostly bare with green growth at the tips. There isn't anything to do at this point in the year except to prune out dead branches if there are any. Pruning back toward the base right after bloom time next spring should cause new growth to break from that point. Fertilizer may help, but it's never a great idea to do it without a soil test first....See MoreRhododendrons
Comments (14)Purple Gem- need as fairly sunny location. In shade to part-shade it might develops into open center, but still dwarf shrub. Capistrano- three years later after posting my observations in above mentioned thread, I didn't change my opinion about Capistrano a one single iota: it is THE best hardy yellow. Need part shade, otherwise flowers bleach to cream in a matter of couple of days. Tend to be somewhat leggy, but this problem could be easily solved if underplanted by lower growing purple or red azaleas. Vulcan's Flame (griersonianum x Mars) - I don't grow this one, but have his seebling, Vulcan (Mars x griersonianum ). Excellent red, it will beat common red, Nova Zembla, hands down. Late bloomer (early June for me), best buds production and habit in full sun, but flowers tend not to last long if planted in western exposure. It took me several attempts to find a right placement for it. Catawbiense Album - excellent bloomer in a fairly shady situation where flowers will retain some pinkish tones of the buds, while in a more sunnier location pink will completely disappear in a 2-3 days after flowers opens. Look absolutely fantastic if planted side-by-side with Cat.'Boursalt' or Cat.'Grandiflorum' which blooms at the same time and identical in size and habit. My own recommendation :-)) This is the rhododendron I wouldn't leave without, Persy Wiseman. As with most Rh.yakushimanum it has a three-four very attractive stages in its bloom period -pre-opening -prime -still prime -past-prime (it's soft apricot, not white)...See MoreDo squirrels typically mess with Azalea/Rhododendron flower buds?
Comments (9)These bushy tailed critters aren't a source of anything except frustration when you see your beds dug up and tomatoes chewed. A few months back, I started hearing strange noises in the wee hours of the morning. Something like an animal scrambling and running along the roof on the outside. My husband made a couple of inspection during daytime in the attic and came out with nothing. One night when we were outside, we saw something flying from a tree on the opposite side across the yard. In the dark, Nothing was clear and we couldn't figure out what it was. It looked more like a chameleon to me that day. The next day, on inspection in the attic, we found some droppings. They were all confined to a single area. Upon discussing the problem with a few friends, we came to the conclusion that it is a flying squirrel. I set up a live trap which didn't work and finally called for a humane squirrel removal service in Markham service to get rid of it. This creature almost ate all of my berries and other veggies in my garden. If you find one around your premises, get this creature out at any cost, or it is going to cost you a lot....See More
Howard Martin
9 months agoHoward Martin
9 months agokitasei2
9 months agoHU-99170548
9 months agoSo we are in New England. The winter was unusually warm with little snow then a night of like -10 in February followed by a really hot and dry May. This messed up a lot of perennials around here. Even established ones.
Recently it has been very hot, but alot of rain.
That garden was made with compost/loam mix covered with about 2" of natural hemlock bark mulch. There is a row purple gems and Autumn Bonfire Encore Azalea and some are in the sun, some are in the shade of a tree.
I guess its just odd that they are from 2021 and should be established and they suddenly take a turn. Emphasis on the sudden. One day they look good, the next not so much.
Here is "Plant 1" from above with different closeup shots
And "Plant 2" from above, the one doing worse. Looks almost dead now
For comparison, this is a healthy one right next to it. And this is what both of those looked like on July 20, then on July 21...... stuff goes south....
What can I look for or try? They did great in 2022, some even bloomed a 2nd time in the fall.
Thank you!
Oh and on the "green carpet," it sadly has some crab grass I would have cropped out of the pictures had I known folks would closely examine ha. I will have to tell the rabbits to do a better job eating it...
HU-99170548
9 months agolast modified: 9 months agoSo I think the one that started off worse (Plant 2) is now dead. Maybe the buds are still ok? Whatever this is, is now starting on many others. First step is groups of older leaves turn red, then yellow and fall off. Similar to malting, but then the remaining leaves shrivel and it turns pale green/brown.
Whatever this is happens very quickly. Goes from green and healthy to this in less than 2 weeks time
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)