Rhododendron 'Calsap'

Ok here goes... "Louie" made it to ground 2 weeks ago. Bought from a local nursery I was supposed to get two calsaps both white with purp...Read Morele centers. Approx 2.5 ft that isnt what I got. Seems one of them is the pink variety. Louie was a comedy of errors from the start. Not liking the ride home in the back of the truck he lost almost all his remaining flowers. Then in digging a hole for him the sewer guys mismarked my yard and POW!...right thru the sewer line.
One day lost to repairs and now I had to find another spot for him. The lady at the nursery told me he had to be shaded. When I asked why since they grew tremendous back east in full sun she said..."Its because we're closer to the sun here in northern NV and they'll wither and die"...I literally laughed in her face and got someone else to help me.

"Mary" (the pink one) is in full sun almost all day and "Louie", though not by my choice, is almost entirely shaded. Both have exploded. Mary is about 5 inches taller and Louie is almost 8. I attribute this difference to them being 2 different varieties. It even looks like I may get more flowers before summers end from both.

Louie had a big branch snap off during planting. No one I knew nor here could say with any certainty what kind of cutting would regrow soft or hardwood, so I planted both in the ground in Louie's original spot. Neither has died yet. This as the other poster had noted is one hardy plant. Lots of people in my neighborhood go for walks and before either was in the ground they have already recieved a lot of attention. I eagerly await next year :)

This is a very hardy rhododendron, nearly as hardy as the 'Ironclad's'. It is a cross between 'Catalgla' X 'Sappho'. It can survive to ...Read Morezone 4b. The buds are lavender and open to pale lavender flowers that age to white. There is a very striking central burgundy blotch. It is a welcome addition to rhody growers in colder climates.