Rhododendrons 'should be culled to save UK gardens'

by Paul Conneally | December 8, 2008 at 12:51 pm

1097 views | 15 Recommendations | 18 comments

Rhododendrons are loved by the British public but plant experts from the UK National Trust are calling for the plants to be 'culled'. They fear that the rhododendron, which is an alien plant species to Britain, is spreading a deadly disease that will kill off some native plants essential for certain ecosystems to exist.

There is some opposition to the plan from Brits who now consider rhododendrons a fully fledged part of British gardens and country parks and woods.

With its exotic flowers, rhododendron ponticum has been popular in ornamental parks and gardens since it was brought to the UK from the East in the 19th Century.

But the alien invader is spreading two new plant diseases that could seriously affect native species and wipe out important heath land.

The National Trust is so concerned about the problem it has written to the Government asking for funds to help clear rhododendrons.

It says it out of control in many areas of the country.

Rhododendrons were first brought to the UK from Japan and India by plant collectors in the 19th century.

The trees were an immediate hit with gardeners but soon became out of control in the mild wet climate.

The small trees have been blamed for crowding out many native plant species and there have already been culls to save native woodland on National Trust properties in the South West, Wales and Scotland.

Now there is a new concern that the plant is host to two deadly new plant diseases from the phytophthora fungus - known as the plant destroyer.

In a letter to the UK and Scottish Governments, the National Trust and National Trust has called for a cull of rhododendrons to stop the spread of the new diseases and funding for more research into the problem.

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Rachael Hickling

at 14:40 on December 8th, 2008

This photograph was taken along a counrty lane in the small Kent village Goudhurst.

Rachael Hickling has contributed a photo to this story.

Ele Spoerer

at 14:59 on December 8th, 2008

Santiago, Chile

Ele Spoerer has contributed a photo to this story.

pvalentine1

at 16:13 on December 8th, 2008

Photo taken in Cunault, France, in May 2008

pvalentine1 has contributed a photo to this story.

Bohemian-Megan

at 16:26 on December 8th, 2008

Illinois, USA

Bohemian-Megan has contributed a photo to this story.

Uwe Paschen

at 23:05 on December 8th, 2008

It would be wise in deed to cull this plan in order to save the Eco System.

Amitjha

at 01:40 on December 9th, 2008

that is really intresting, Introduction of Eucalyptus in India is creating the same problem, it does not allow other species to grow.

gerrypopplestone

at 04:44 on December 9th, 2008

And the Eucalyptus takes up a huge amount of precious water. It should be banned in developing countries!

virginia.mcmillan

at 01:59 on December 9th, 2008

Article does not provide information on this particular fungus apart from destructive power ... how does it spread?

gerrypopplestone

at 04:45 on December 9th, 2008

Some of us English gardeners hate it: we think it is a pest.

Di Smith

at 05:23 on December 9th, 2008

The photo I took was in our garden, one Sunday morning I noticed the first cluster completely open with no more flower heads to open. I was very pleased with the photo.

Di Smith has contributed a photo to this story.

Marian Curzon (not verified)

at 13:52 on December 9th, 2008

Thank you for the opportunity to expose some of my images to a wider audience. I am weel pleased with your request. However I must say that I have not heard of the problem of ill health from Rhoddies to other palnts. Here in Dunedin, NZ, we have a wonderful Rhododendron garden - a part of the Dunedin Botanical Gardens - and celebrate this wonderful botanical with a festival each year. Looking at some of the photos in the stream I have noticed that a lot of the plants look unwell and wonder if it is a problem of we - human kind - stubbornly persisting on trying to grow specimens that arte totally inappropriate to the environment. Rhododendrons are a cold climate, mountainous type terrain loving plant.

I understand the need to cull a pest but please dont blame the culprit. In the appropriate environment the Rhododendron is a majestic specimen with an extraordinary array of sizes, shapes, and colours.

Again thank you for the chance to display my work and I look forward to contributing again.

billd_48

at 09:48 on December 10th, 2008

This photo was taken in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, USA in July of 2007. The rhododendrons were in various stages of development depending on their elevation on the trail.

William Dickinson

billd_48 has contributed a photo to this story.

jayjayc

at 22:34 on December 11th, 2008

Our potted plant, Rhododendron simsii (Azalea indica), taken in October 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Such a pretty dwarf variety that wants to share its beauty in return for just a little tender loving care.

A pity though to read that Rhodos are creating a problem in UK and need to be culled?

Thanks anyway for the invitation to share it here. :)

ivan_szedo

at 08:43 on December 12th, 2008

I took this photo in the Jeli Arboretum, Hungary in the August of 2000'.

ivan_szedo has contributed a photo to this story.

janicebaird34

at 10:57 on December 23rd, 2008

Rhododendrons are some of my favourite flowers. This one was at Eden Gardens in Auckland. A lovely garden made from a quarry. See more of my photos on flickr under janicebaird34. Take time to enjoy flowers!

janicebaird34 has contributed a photo to this story.

azzayindia

at 06:26 on January 4th, 2009

and I thought Rhododendrons were good for environment.we too have lot of these Rhododendrons trees in Mussoorie and Uttarakhand infact it is the state tree of Uttarakhand.What is the disease called technical term? and will it be destructive to plant life in Mussoorie too

monochromos

at 14:20 on January 5th, 2009

Rhododendrons taken at Sheringham Park in Norfolk (owned by the National Trust.)

monochromos has contributed a photo to this story.

oldblinddog

at 09:43 on January 11th, 2009

Interesting article. I'd like to hear more about how the fungus is spread, and wonder if this problem is occurring elsewhere. I hope the UK is able to find a way to get this under control without needing to completely eliminate the species. They certainly are beautiful plants, and if you'll note the bee lunching on my rhododendron (slideshow #2, taken in Massanutten, Virginia, US, summer of '08), they aren't entirely bad for the ecosystem here. However, we have a plethora of ladybugs around the area that are wreaking some havoc. Thank you for including my photo.