Rhododendron: the King of Shrubs

Rhododendron: the King of Shrubs

Rhododendrons are considered the best flowering evergreen plants for the temperate landscape. For plants of interest with vibrancy and variability of flower colour, few groups of plants can better [than] Rhododendrons. The rhododendron genus contains around 800 species, although mainly found in Asia, thanks to the work of plant collectors such as Sir Joseph Hooker, George Forrest, Ernest Wilson and Joseph Rock, amongst others, they can be grown in Britain. The Holford family, who were responsible for establishing the National Arboretum in South-West England, not only cultivated rhododendron, but also grew new interesting hybrids. Many of these unusual hybrids can be found today at the Westonbirt Arboretum.

In it’s native Asia the rhododendron is the national flower of Nepal. The name rhododendron, though, comes from the Ancient Greek for ‘rose tree’: when the rhododendron was first introduced to Britain in 1656 they were know as the Alpine Rose.

The post photograph shows a rhododendron shot at the Westonbirt Arboretum over the weekend. Of the many species I came across, without doubt, the most popular rhododendron with the bees was the the Rhododendron Cynthia!

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