Rhododendron Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
- Azaleastrum
- Candidastrum
- Hymenanthes
- Mumeazalea
- Pentanthera
- Rhododendron
- Therorhodion
- Tsutsusi
Source: RBG, Edinburgh
Rhododendron (from the Greek: rhodos, rose; dendron, tree) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. This is such a large genus that the plants are organised by subgenus, section, subsection and alliance.
These subgenera can be basically divided into four groups:
- large leaf or elepidotes (without scales on the underside of their leaves)
- small leaf or lepidotes (with scales on the underside of their leaves)
- evergreen azaleas
- deciduous azaleas.
The largest natural rhododendron garden in the world is in Bakersville, North Carolina. The garden is situated on the top of Roan Mountain state park.
The Rhododendron is the state flower of Washington and West Virginia.
There are several hundred cultivars of Rhododendron. These have been bred to have larger or smaller flowers, and a vast array of petal colours. An example of a cultivar popular in the US is Rhododendron 'President Roosevelt'.
Rhododendrons have a toxin called grayanotoxin in their pollen and nectar. People have been known to become ill from eating honey made by bees feeding on rhododendron and azalea flowers.
See also: azalea