Rhododendron 'Sappho'

Hybridized by Anthony Waterer for Knap Hill Nursery in 1870, poor Sappho is much maligned for its notoriously gangly and sprawling growth habit. It is a testament to the beauty of this flower that Sappho is still grown today. The solution to its ungainly habit is to plant it in brighter sunlight than most rhododendrons, protect it from winds, and water it adequately. Alas, even with the best of care, it still manages to get some weevil damage to its leaves each year.