By Will Clausen, Horticulturist & Assistant Curator Deciduous Conifers (pdf) With October in full swing, it’s a good time to highlight some of the most surprising contributors to fall color. Deciduous conifers are plants that in the summer masquerade as typical conifers (pines, redwoods, firs, etc.). They have the cones, branching structure, and small needle-like […]
The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden has been recognized with a Silver award in The Seattle Times’ 2026 Best in the PNW contest for Best Day Trip. FEDERAL WAY, Wash. The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden (RSBG) has been awarded Silver for Best Day Trip in The Seattle Times’ 2026 Best in the PNW contest. The recognition […]
By RSBG Nursery Manager & Assistant Curator, Atsuko Gibson I always get asked this question: “What is your favorite rhododendron?” R. quinquefolium blooms Out of 1300 species, it is nearly impossible to narrow it down to a single favorite, but my answer is always the same: Rhododendron quinquefolium. It is a deciduous, five-leaved azalea. What […]
RSBG Newsletter Vol 51 Num 2 2026 Fall Fall Newsletter Vol 51 Num 2 2026
By Emily Joseph – RSBG Retail Sales Manager & Assistant Nursery Manager If you’ve ever wandered through a fern-filled garden or hiked on a summer afternoon and watched dust shimmer in the golden light, you may have witnessed ferns in the act of reproduction. Appearing in fossil records dating back about 350 million years, […]
By Will Clausen, Horticulturist & Assistant Curator Spring is in full swing with summer nearly upon us and if you’re anything like me, then the urge to get out and see wild plants in our beautiful region is seriously building! It’s well known that coastal Pacific Northwest is a great place for growing rhododendrons in […]
Download: Plethora of Pleiones By Atsuko Gibson RSBG Nursery Manager and Assistant Curator When I was first introduced to the genus Pleione during my early years at the RSBG, I was blown away. There was once a fairly large clump of Pleione formosana blooming in the Alpine Garden—nestled in thick moss. (Sadly, it’s now gone, thanks to voles.) At the […]
By Emily Joseph – RSBG Retail Sales Manager & Assistant Nursery Manager Of all the rhododendron species you could grow, Rhododendron williamsianum is among the easiest and most adaptable for urban and suburban gardens. We often consider it an excellent introductory choice for beginners or budding rhododendron collectors. Rounded leaves about the size […]
RSBG Newsletter Vol 51 Num 1 2026 Spring RSBG Newsletter Vol 51 Num 1 2026 Spring
Rutherford Conservatory Updates Ahead! Download (pdf) By Rutherford Conservatory Horticulturist Kim Farmer For those of you who have been visiting the RSBG for some time, it may be hard to believe that the conservatory first opened 16 years ago in September of 2010. Since that time, many plants have grown and flourished in their new […]
by Steve Hootman The genus Mahonia is one of the primary subcollections here at the RSBG (Rhododendron being the primary collection of course). There are around 70 species of Mahonia and these occur from the Himalaya Mountains into southeastern Asia and in North and Central America. The mahonias (sometimes included in the genus Berberis) are […]
By RSBG Horticulturist and Assistant Curator Will Clausen Gardens are living museums and ever changing. Those basic truths, though occasionally frustrating, are a big part of the fun of being a gardener. As 2025 wraps up, I am reflecting on some of the garden projects we completed this year and thinking about things we plan […]
By RSBG Nursery Manager & Assistant Curator, Atsuko Gibson The most frequently asked question here at the garden is, “What is the difference between a rhododendron and an azaleas?” There is a simple answer and a long answer. The simple answer is, all azaleas are rhododendrons, but not all rhododendrons are azaleas. All azaleas belong […]
The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden (RSBG) has been awarded Silver for Best Attraction in The Seattle Times 2025 Best in the PNW contest – a remarkable achievement for this beloved nonprofit botanical garden. For first-time visitors, stepping into the RSBG can be a transformative experience. Nestled in the heart of Federal Way, the 22-acre woodland […]
RSBG Newsletter Vol 50 Num 2 2025 Summer RSBG Newsletter Vol 50 Num 2 2025 Summer
RSBG Newsletter Vol 50 Num 1 2025 Spring RSBG Newsletter Vol 50 Num 1 2025 Spring
