Species Profiles

Of the many outstanding introductions of Rhododendron species made by Joseph Dalton Hooker during his famous expedition to Sikkim and surrounding regions in 1848-1949, Rhododendron ciliatum is perhaps one of the least widely grown “hardy” species in the modern garden. This is unfortunate given that the semi-dwarf habit, attractive foliage, and large funnel-shaped flowers provide […]

Species rhododendrons are grown for their attractive or fragrant flowers, their interesting and even beautiful foliage, or their smooth and glossy peeling bark. Rhododendron edgeworthii is one of the exceptional species in which all of these desirable characteristics come together. This species is the best known and most often grown member of subsection Edgeworthia, a […]

For sheer majesty in the genus Rhododendron, one would be hard-pressed to surpass the big-leafed Himalayan tree R. falconeri. The huge bold leathery leaves up to 14 inches in length are more than matched by the large, rounded inflorescence of white to pale yellow flowers. The stout growth habit and overall massive scale of this […]

One of the classic species in the genus Rhododendron must surely be R. strigillosum. The large deep red flowers in early spring set against the characteristic whorl of dark green leaves with distinctly bristly petioles make this species a must for every collection. Known in its native China as mang ci dujuan (“prickly rhododendron”), this […]

Of all the brilliantly colored flowers in nature’s vast repertoire, I have a special affinity for those of the yellow persuasion. Now by yellow I mean the deep solid yellow found in many species of Narcissus (daffodils), for example, or the pure yellow of a buttercup. This fondness, in combination with an unreasonable lust for […]

The majority of the 30 or so rhododendrons introduced by Joseph Hooker from his 1848-1850 expedition to Sikkim have become well known and, at least in species collections, widely grown. Showy and impressive species such as thomsonii, arboreum, niveum, maddenii, edgeworthii, falconeri, hodgsonii, griffithianum, campanulatum, barbatum, and cinnabarinum gained the widespread attention and admiration of […]

Rhododendron vernicosum is a member of the popular and widely grown group of related species known as subsection Fortunea (Fortunei Series). This subsection includes such familiar species as sutchuenense, calophytum, orbiculare, decorum, fortunei, oreodoxa, and griffithianum. Although less well known and not as common in gardens as these other deservedly popular species, R. vernicosum can […]