Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
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Check outALL of our upcoming EVENTS

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rhodygarden

Botanical garden with the world’s largest collection of Rhododendron species, tropical conservatory, blue poppy meadow, plant shop, stumpery, & more.

What does it take to breed a rhododendron for maxi What does it take to breed a rhododendron for maximum red?

Join us November 19 for Hybridizing for the Red Maximum Effect, a deep dive into decades of experimentation with Rhododendron maximum and its hybrids.

Hybridizer, propagator, and grower Joe Bruso will explore the fascinating “Red Max Effect” and how reddish pigmentation can appear in rhododendron flowers, foliage, stems and even sap. Drawing on hundreds of crosses, Joe will share the surprising variations, challenges and lessons learned while breeding for this distinctive trait.

Whether you’re a rhododendron enthusiast, a hybridizer or simply curious about the science behind plant color, this is a chance to learn from years of hands-on experience.

Thursday, November 19, 2026
5–6 p.m. Pacific | Live on Zoom

Registration:
RSBG members: $15 + tax
Non-members: $25 + tax

Register online and join us for an evening of rhododendron discovery!

#RSBG #Rhododendrons #RhododendronHybridizing #PlantScience #Horticulture #BotanicalGarden #OnlineWebinar #HorticultureWebinar #HorticultureTalks #BotanicalGardens #rhododendronspeciesbotanicalgarden
The Garden is for the birds, even in fall and wint The Garden is for the birds, even in fall and winter.

If you’re quiet, you can hear the different bird calls drifting through the Garden and, with a little patience, catch sight of birds moving among the rhododendrons and trees.

Today’s sightings included a Golden-crowned Kinglet, Purple Finch, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Junco, Varied Thrush, American Robins, Steller’s Jays and a Downy Woodpecker.

November 1 marks the start of the 2026–27 Project FeederWatch season! This community science program, run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada, invites people to count birds at their feeders, gardens and other outdoor spaces. These observations help scientists track bird populations and understand how they change over time. (Learn more at feederwatch.org.)

You don’t need a feeder to participate. Just find a spot, take time to observe and share what you see.

What birds have you spotted lately?

#RSBG #ProjectFeederWatch #Birdwatching #BirdsOfThePacificNorthwest #GardenWildlife #RhododendronSpeciesBotanicalGarden #WildlifeWatching
#GardenWildlife #NatureInTheGarden #NativeBirds #PNWBirds
#BirdsOfWashington #WashingtonBirds
Four Special Plants to Discover in the Fall Plant Four Special Plants to Discover in the Fall Plant Catalog

Looking for something distinctive for your garden? From woodland perennials with dramatic foliage to fragrant rhododendrons, these four selections offer something special for plant lovers.

🌸 ** Paeonia mairei | $14 | Small Band**

This choice herbaceous peony features deep rose-pink flowers up to five inches across, accented by a bright golden center of stamens. Its glossy, deep green foliage has beautifully impressed veins. Unlike many peonies, this species performs best in shade, making it a wonderful choice for a woodland garden.

🤍 ** Rhododendron ‘Cowbell’ | $19 | Small Band**

This lovely edgeworthii hybrid produces masses of highly fragrant white flowers flushed with pink in mid-spring. Attractive dark green leaves with prominent veining add to its appeal. In colder climates, it performs best in a container. This is our first offering of this special plant!
🌿 ** Podophyllum aurantiocaule **

A stunning Asian Mayapple with large, leathery, glossy green leaves that resemble little umbrellas. Its hanging white flowers are followed by large, fleshy, bright red fruits. Plant it in shade with rich, moist soil for especially lush foliage.

💛 ** Rhododendron luteum ‘Golden Comet’ | $25 | 1 Gallon**

An RSBG selection chosen for its outstanding qualities, ‘Golden Comet’ produces large, deep yellow, highly fragrant flowers in mid-spring, followed by bright red fall foliage. Easy to grow in sun or light shade, it tolerates both cold and heat and is resistant to powdery mildew.

Find your next garden favorite! The RSBG Fall Plant Catalog is open for orders through October 28. Explore the selection and bring something extraordinary to your garden.

Shop the catalog: https://shop.rhodygarden.org/

#RSBG #RhodyGarden #FallPlantCatalog #RarePlants #WoodlandGarden #Rhododendron #GardenInspiration
A little glimpse into the Plant Expedition in Japa A little glimpse into the Plant Expedition in Japan happening right now! 🇯🇵🍂

Fall color is spreading across the mountains around Mt. Ishizuchi, Japan’s highest peak on Shikoku Island. From sweeping mountainsides painted in autumn hues to the smaller botanical treasures tucked along the trail, every step offers something worth stopping for.

Here, Steve Hootman takes a moment with Rhododendron pentaphyllum, a beautiful species encountered along the journey. These are the kinds of discoveries that make plant expeditions so special: seeing plants in their native habitats and experiencing the landscapes they call home.

The expedition is still underway, and we’re looking forward to sharing more glimpses from the field!

#RSBG #RhodyGarden #PlantExpedition #Japan #MtIshizuchi #Rhododendron #RhododendronPentaphyllum #BotanicalExploration #PlantConservation
Fall color isn't just about the big, fiery display Fall color isn't just about the big, fiery displays. 🍂

Look a little closer and you'll find golden leaves glowing overhead, deep reds and purples, delicate lavender flowers, and tiny raindrops catching the light. Even the whirling helicopter seeds of Japanese maples have a beauty of their own.

One of the things I love about fall at the Garden is how much there is to discover, from the dramatic colors of the Japanese maples to the quieter details you might miss if you're moving too quickly.

And the colors keep changing! Every visit offers something a little different.

Come enjoy the season with us at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.

Our Fall Foliage Festival & Plant Sale is November 7–8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free admission. But don't wait until then to visit. There's always something worth seeing.

Learn more: https://rhodygarden.org/events/fall-foliage-festival/

#RhodyGarden #FallFoliage #LeafPeeping #AutumnColors #PublicGarden #Rhododendron #autumnatthegarden
November Webinar: Hybridizing for the Red Maximum November Webinar: Hybridizing for the Red Maximum Effect 🌺

What happens when you spend more than 25 years crossing Rhododendron maximum with other species and hybrids in search of one intriguing trait?

Join us November 19 at 5 p.m. PST for a fascinating presentation with Joe Bruso, hybridizer, propagator, and grower of rhododendron species and hybrids.

Joe will share the results of more than two decades of hybridizing with a R. maximum seedling known as “maximum RP,” which originated from an RSBG accession and exhibits unusual marbling and red pigment in its leaves and flowers.

Known as the “Red Max Effect,” this unusual pigmentation can appear in flowers, foliage, stems, sap, and other parts of the plant. Joe will explore what he has observed through hundreds of crosses, including why the trait appears in some seedlings but not others and how its expression can vary.

One especially interesting cross, maximum RP × Rhododendron elegantulum, produced the Red Max Effect in all seven plants Joe retained through flowering, with results ranging from predominantly red trusses to combinations of red, bicolor, and pink flowers.

Whether you're interested in rhododendron hybridizing, propagation, unusual forms of R. maximum, or distinctive flowers and foliage, this webinar offers a fascinating look at more than two decades of experimentation.

📅 November 19, 2026
⏰ 5–6 p.m. PST
💻 Zoom
🌿 Members: $15 + tax | Non-members: $25 + tax

Registration required. Link in bio.

#RSBG #RhodyGarden #Rhododendron #RhododendronSpecies #RhododendronHybridizing #RhododendronHybridizer #PlantBreeding #PlantPropagation #RhododendronMaximum #RedMaximum #RedMaxEffect #Hybridizing #RhododendronLovers #PlantLovers #BotanicalGarden #BotanicalGardens #Horticulture #HorticultureEducation #GardenEducation #PlantScience #GardeningWebinar #HorticultureWebinar #PNWGardening #PacificNorthwest #AmericanRhododendronSociety
Featured Plants from the Fall Plant Catalog Looki Featured Plants from the Fall Plant Catalog

Looking for something special for your garden? Our Fall Plant Catalog features a wonderful selection of unusual species and botanical treasures, from striking foliage to beautiful blooms.

🌿 Hydrangea radiata offers distinctive leaves with silvery-white undersides that create a beautiful contrast against the deep green upper surfaces.

🌸 Magnolia obovata brings bold, broad foliage and an elegant, fragrant flower to the garden.

🌺 Rhododendron racemosum ‘Rock Rose’ features clusters of delicate pink flowers that create a soft, colorful display.

🤍 Rhododendron serotinum showcases large, white flowers against deep green foliage.

There's still time to find something special for your garden! The RSBG Fall Plant Catalog is open for orders through October 28. Explore the selection and place your order before the catalog closes.

Browse the catalog and order online: https://rhodygarden.org/

#RhodyGarden #FallPlantCatalog #PlantCollectors #Rhododendrons #Magnolia #Hydrangea #RarePlants #GardenInspiration
Storytime at the Garden is here to stay! 🌿📚 What Storytime at the Garden is here to stay! 🌿📚

What started as a pilot this fall was such a success that we’re making Storytime at the Garden a permanent weekly program!

Join us every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. for a 30-minute nature-focused storytime designed for preschoolers ages 2–5 and their parents or caregivers.

We’ll gather in the Garden Gazebo when the weather is nice, with the Rutherford Conservatory as our cold weather and rainy-day backup. Both locations are accessible via the ADA path, and there’s space for stroller parking.

Each week, we’ll share a children’s story and connect it to the natural world around us with a simple, age-appropriate nature activity or exploration.

🌱 Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
📚 Ages 2–5
👩‍👩‍👧 Parent or caregiver must accompany children
🌧️ Gazebo, weather permitting; Rutherford Conservatory in cold or rainy weather
🎟️ No registration required
💚 Always free for families

Come for the story. Stay for a little garden exploring.

📍 Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
2525 S 336th St., Federal Way, WA

#StorytimeAtTheGarden #RSBG #RhodyGarden #FederalWayWA #FederalWayKids #FederalWayFamilies #SouthKingCounty #SouthSound #SouthSoundKids #SouthSoundFamilies #PNWKids #PNWFamily #PNWKidsActivities #SeattleKids #SeattleFamilies #SeattleKidsEvents #TacomaKids #TacomaFamilies #KidsEvents #KidsActivities #KidsStorytime #Storytime #LibraryStorytime #FamilyStorytime #PreschoolActivities #NatureForKids #ParentMap #ParentMapSeattle #SeattleParents #WashingtonFamilies
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HOURS

10 am - 4 pm
Tuesday - Sunday
Closed: Mondays

Closed : Thanksgiving,
day after Thanksgiving,
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day,
December 31 (New Year’s Eve),
New Year’s Day, 4th of July

ADMISSION

$12.00   General Admission
$9.00     Seniors (65+) &
                 Students (w/ school ID)
Free:     Children under 12 years, school groups, RSBG members and military personnel (active and retired) with ID. Admission required for military dependents over 12 years of age.
The RSBG is only accepting credit cards for admissions, plants, and gift shop purchases at this time. Thank you for your understanding.

LOCATION

map
Interactive Map

CONTACT

Office: 253-838-4646
Visitor Center: 253-838-4646 x 140
Fax: 253-838-4686
Mail:
PO Box 3798
Federal Way, WA 98063
 
Email: info@rhodygarden.org
Contact Us

(c) 2026 Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden – Where the Wild Things Grow!

Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
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