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| 16th May 2014 | 16th May 2014 | 31st May 2018 |
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A large flowered hybrid that was well establisted in the garden when I arrived here. For a long time I thought that it was probably 'Pink Pearl' but in recent years
I have changed my mind and now think it is 'Halopeanum', also known as 'White Pearl'. The International Rhododendron Register says: "R. griffithianum (seed) x Fls slightly blushed at first, changing to pure white. AM 1906." Stervinou say: "This old variety was created by Mr Halopé from Cherbourg, Normandy in 1895. It is a strong grower, with beautiful bark at maturity. In May, it produces clear pink blossoms." There is an article about its origin in the Journal of the American Rhododendron Society by Marc Colombel that contains some useful information: "In the summer of 1995, the owner of a botanical garden, a Mr. Gueguen near Quimper, Brittany, told me that a Mrs. Madeleine Letribot had visited his garden and saw the label 'Halopeanum' under a rhododendron. She told Mr. Gueguen that she was a granddaughter of Mr. Halop, a French nurseryman. We French people, as many others, I suppose, believed what was in Rhododendron Hybrids (Salley and Greer). That is to say: Halope, Belgium, 1896, as its place and date of origin. We discovered that Mr. Halop was a very well-known nurseryman in the Cherbourg area (Cotentin Peninsula) and that his rhododendron was a chance seedling. 1. Revue Horticole , 1896, pp. 359-360. I think this is the most important clue because on page 360 there is an accurate description - like a registration form. We learn that 'Halopeanum' is a cross between an R. griffithianum and an R. arboreum , Smith (Exotic Botany 1804-1805). 1 There were several R. arboreum near the R. griffithianum , and Mr. Halop does not know which one was the pollen plant. The seeds were harvested in 1885, and it is only in 1893 that the first flowers appeared. During the winter 1894-1895 there was a terrible frost (for this area). The temperature fell to -16°C, and 'Halopeanum' did not suffer. On May 8, 1896, Mr. Ed. Andre received a flower truss (or trusses) and an aquarelle was immediately done. 3. Revue Horticole , 1896. Mr. Halop reports he has three different R. griffithianum : one pure white and two different pinks. He adds that 'Halopeanum' has to be in full sun to color. The 'Halopeanum' will be sold in 1897. 6. Bulletin of the Socit d'Horticulture de Cherbourg , 1912. This is a report about a very interesting visit to Kew. This bulletin says about 'Halopeanum': it is called 'Gauntlettii' here because its introducer in England found his name was better than Mr. Halop's name. So (at the end of page 77 and 78) it tells why there are three names for the same plant: 'White Pearl' for the Dutch introducer, 'Gauntlettii' for the English introducer, and 'Halopeanum' for the obtainer. Presumably the name 'Gauntlettii' derives from the nursery of V.N. Gauntlett & co. Interestingly, the original site for the Gauntlett nursery is about two miles away from this garden. |
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