A “self-sown seedling, which, sprouting up in apparently impossible conditions, excels in health and vigour anything similar which you may have transplanted with the greatest care into a prepared bed of the most succulent consistency.” Vita Sackville West.
I treasure the many wonderful garden plants that are self-sown – likely aided and abetted by birds. Our songbirds are master gardeners. However, with our recent life-threatening weather – evidencing climate change – I want to focus here on a plant you can purchase now, which enjoys the same health and vigor of volunteers.
Rhododendron ‘Faisa’ Z. 4-7, is a small-leafed, evergreen Rhododendron lepidote. For over 30 years in my garden it has been pest and disease free, bloomed reliably every May, and prospered despite hot dry summers and freezing cold winters. Photos below. The last photo includes the tall, evergreen Azalea, R. ‘Amoena’ Z 6b-9, another Rhododendron superstar.
copyright 2026 – Lois Sheinfeld
copyright 2026 – Lois Sheinfeld
copyright 2026 – Lois Sheinfeld
All you need to know about Rhododendron planting and care is covered by Hank Schannen’s “Criteria For Success with Rhododendrons”. See post “2024: Time-Tested Beauties”. Hank Schannen was the founder of RareFind Nursery and an award-winning Rhododendron breeder.
Sadly, our federal government is not aggressively pursuing policies to reduce harmful pollution causing climate change. Just the opposite. The President has called climate change a hoax and has aggressively dismantled federal climate, health, and other regulatory environmental efforts.
We gardeners have to do the best we can under these circumstances. In my next post I will focus on additional shrubs that have been time-tested in my garden and thrived despite environmental insults.