Rhododendron arboreum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rhododendron arboreum
Rhododendron arboreum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Ericales Family: Ericaceae Genus: Rhododendron L. Species: arboreum Source: RBG, Edinburgh
Subgenera
Vireya

Rhododendron arboreum, Lali Gurans the national flower of Nepal, is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a showy display of bright red flowers. It is also found in Bhutan, China, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Contents 1 Description 2 Cultivation 3 Variants 4 Threats 5 Notes

[edit] Description

Its name means ‘tending to be woody or growing in a tree-like form’. It has a height and spread up to 12m (36ft) x 12m (36ft).

In early- and mid-spring, trusses of 15-20 bell-shaped flowers, 5cm (2in) wide and 3-5cm (1.25-2in) long are produced in red, pink or white. They have black nectar pouches and black spots inside.

[edit] Cultivation

It prefers moist but well-drained, leafy, humus-rich, acid soil, in dappled shade. It has broad, dark green leaves, 7-19cm (3-7in) long, with a silvery, fawn or brown hairy coating beneath.

This plant is suitable for woodland gardens.

[edit] Variants

Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum has leaves with cinnamon-brown hairs beneath.
Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum var. album has white flowers with small blood red spots on the inner surface of the petals.
Rhododendron arboreum subsp. delavayi has red flowers.
Rhododendron arboreum Sm. subsp. nilagiricum (Zenker) Tagg is found in Tamil Nadu, India.^[1]

[edit] Threats

Rhododendrons are susceptible to vine weevil, rhododendron and azalea whiteflies, leafhoppers, lacebugs, scale insects, caterpillars, aphids, powdery mildew, bud blast, honey fungus, rust, leafy gall, petal blight, silver leaf, phytophthora root rot and lime-induced chlorosis.^[2]

[edit] Notes