Rhododendron (the plant) Question

5 for Fighting · 03-02-2005, 07:09 AM

Rhododendron (the plant) Question

We are doing some landscaping updates to the yard and the plans don't included the Rhododendrons that are there. I have 3, pretty big, 6 or 7 feet tall. My neighbor, after hearing I was going to rip them out said they are worth something. He seems to think people will pay good money for these things.

Any truth to this? Please share any insight you have please.

Thanks!
Chad

lost_sailor · 03-02-2005, 07:36 AM

If they are healthy, someone might want them.

If it was me, I'd give them to the first person who would come and dig them out. A 7 foot rhodo will be no small project. (Actually I AM me, and I've planted more ... )

You could put it on http://portland.craigslist.org/
and see if you get any bites.

Otherwise, give them to your neighbor who values them so highly.

USS Minnow · 03-02-2005, 07:44 AM

Rhododendrons; probably not. Sometimes a large specimen of a particular variety may be saleable but that is usually not the case. The work involved to dig and transport a large plant is incredible so to justify it the plant has to be very valuable. Specimen Japanese maples are more likely to find a home. Also, recently the state has been dealing with a plant disease called "Sudden Oak Death". This means that all plants exported to other states have to come from inspected and certified nurseries. There are very few nurseries that will risk their certification by shipping a plant from an unknown and uncertified source like someone�s back yard. All of that being said if you dig the plants and put a for sale sign on them in your front yard it would be legal and you just might sell them...

Good Luck :smile:
John
www.broadmeadnursery.com

Snug 2 · 03-02-2005, 09:34 AM

2 years back my wife and I bought a new house and we needed to have 12 Rhodies removed. We did not want to cut them so we posted on Craigslist. They all went in one weekend. The responce was amazing. We did not charge for them. Just told people if they wanted then they had to dig 'um up and I asked that they leave me a couple bags of potting mix (which most did). We have also gotten rid of other flowers and bamboo on there. Good luck.

5 for Fighting · 03-02-2005, 10:04 AM

Sounds like a good idea. One of them is in the back yard and would be a pain to get out. All I'm looking for is to get out of the work myself....

ICHTHYDEMON · 03-02-2005, 11:55 AM

Rhodies are really easy to dig up. They don't have real deep roots and they transplant well. You could have a 7' Rhodie dug out of the ground in 5 minutes. I'm doing a MAJOR backyard overhaul,and have given away 15 Rhodies in the last month. You won't have a problem getting rid of them.