Double-flowered rhododendrons
 

Strolling round Exbury yesterday a thought came to mind that although
there were many double-flowered camellias on show, there were no
double-flowered rhododendrons at all. It was a late season and not
everything was in bloom, but thinking about previous trips to famous
rhodo gardens (such as Leonardslee), I couldn't remember seeing any
double-flowered rhodos there either.

A quick internet search showed that there are quite a few around, but -
whether you like double-flowered plants or not - rhodos seem conspicuous
by their absence, considering the vast numbers of cultivars and hybrids
around. This seems particularly odd when their near-cousins, the
camellias, seem to have more double than single flowered forms.

Any ideas why double-flowered rhodos are effectively non-existent in
gardens?

--

Jeff