Ostrava Zoo’s Rhododendrons Are Starting to Bloom – Don’t Miss Out!
Rhododendrons have been planted at Ostrava Zoo since the late 1800s. You can find the highest number of these beautiful plants in Rhododendron Park, which is right next to the large natural habitats for bears and wolverines known as Čitván. This park hosts one of the biggest collections of rhododendrons in Central Europe. The blooming rhododendrons line the main path for visitors, growing along the botanical trails and even within the enclosures of various animals, such as in the flamingo enclosure, the red panda enclosure, and the Aviaries for birds from Tibet and China. Close to the zoo entrance, there is a special collection of ornamental trees and bonsai, where you can find miniature Japanese azaleas (Rhododendron japonicum) that are nearly forty years old.
The gene pool in Rhododendron Park includes plants from all over Europe, but most of them come from the Silva Tarouca Research Institute based in Průhonice. Rhododendrons are hard to overlook because of their large and colorful flowers. These blossoms can be pure white, shades of pink, yellow, as well as purplish-red or deep purple, even though they last for a relatively short period of time—just 10 to 18 days. Did you know that rhododendrons have a special relationship with fungi? The fungi help supply the plants with water and nutrients! You can discover this and other fascinating information through guided tours that are available during nice weather on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 2 pm. These tours come with your zoo admission and do not need to be reserved in advance.
The pink tree and azaleas
The botanical name Rhododendron (pěnišník) means rose tree. This large group includes species that can grow as tall as 25 meters, as well as those that grow on other plants (called epiphytes). To date, there have been nearly 900 native species identified, with about half of them found in western China, while roughly twenty species can be found in North America. The Rhododendron was introduced to gardens in Europe at the end of the 17th century, making its way to our continent from Western Europe in 1844 (during that time, it was brought to the University Botanical Garden in Smíchov).
Azaleas are also noted for their strong fragrance. Lush clusters of these eye-catching plants can be found lining the main path for visitors. The large natural area in the Čitván exhibit is connected to Rhododendron Park, where the number of planted rhododendrons is particularly high. The trees were planted in the 1980s in a cool, shaded area with local woodlands, which had enough moisture and sheltered spots that are resistant to frost. Today, there are over 8,000 specimens across 581 species and cultivars.
