Rhododendrons
May to June
The brilliance of the undergrowth
As spring blossoms, the rhododendrons of Vullierens take over from the first blooms.
Lush and colorful, they offer a striking spectacle, combining vegetal power and floral refinement.
Their swathes of color—white, pink, purple, red, and orange—illuminate the undergrowth of Muni’s Garden and Daria’s Garden, in the shade of tall trees.
Enhanced flowering
The word rhododendron comes from the Greek rhodo (rose) and dendron (tree). Introduced to Europe in the 19th century by great botanical explorers such as Sir Joseph Hooker and Joseph Banks, these spectacular shrubs have since conquered gardens around the world.
Traditionally unsuited to calcareous soils, an innovative strain was developed in Germany a quarter of a century ago that tolerates more neutral, even clayey soils.
More robust and with vigorous roots, Inkarho rhododendrons were chosen for their great adaptability and rich floral palette.
Two distinct areas of the gardens at Château de Vullierens are home to rhododendrons beneath their century-old trees.
The collection covers a wide range of colors, from pure white (‘Gomer Waterer’) to lavender (‘Furnivall’s Daughter’), intense pink (‘Constance’) and deep red (‘Junideuer’), not to mention the exceptional ‘Goldbukett’, with its rare and luminous yellow.
