Rhododendron rubiginosum
Common name:
Rubiginosum Rhododendron
Pronunciation:
rho-do-DEN-dron roo-bi-gi-NO-sum
Family:
Ericaceae
Type:
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon:
No
- Broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree, 6 ft (1.8 m) tall in 10 years, to 30 ft (10 m) or more, open, upright, new growth distinctively scaly and purplish. Leaves alternate, simple, 5-11.5 cm long, narrowly elliptic to almost lanceolate, hairless (glabrous) scaleless above, overlapping or contiguous unequal reddish brown scales below. Flowers bell-shaped, about 3 cm long, pink, rose, or rose-lilac, spotted brown, 4-8 per cluster.
- -0°F, early-mid, 3/2-3/3-4 [flower / plant & foliage / performance; scale 1 (poor) - 5 (best)]. Sun to part shade.
- Native to China (Yunnan, Szechwan, Xizang) and Burma.
- Greer (1996, p. 62) states that this species resembles R. desquamatum and is a synonym for R. rubiginosum in a current revision of rhododendron species.
- rubiginosum: rusty, apparently a reference to the rust colored scales.
- Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden, Federal Way, Washington.
Click image to enlarge
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plant habit, flowering
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flower clusters
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flowers
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leaves
