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Rhododendron formosanum Hemsl.

TSO logo

Sponsor

Kindly sponsored by
Peter Norris, enabling the use of The Rhododendron Handbook 1998

Credits

New article for Trees and Shrubs Online.

Recommended citation
'Rhododendron formosanum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/rhododendron/rhododendron-formosanum/). Accessed 2026-05-19.

Family

  • Ericaceae

Genus

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

indumentum
A covering of hairs or scales.

Credits

New article for Trees and Shrubs Online.

Recommended citation
'Rhododendron formosanum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/rhododendron/rhododendron-formosanum/). Accessed 2026-05-19.

Shrub or small tree, 2–5.5 m. Leaves 7–13 × 1.5–3 cm, elliptic to oblanceolate, apex cuspidate, upper surface reticulate, lower surface with a one-layered compacted fawn indumentum intermixed with a few glands; petioles 1–2 cm. Flowers 10–20, in an open inflorescence, white to pink, with purplish flecks, widely funnel-shaped, nectar pouches lacking, 30–40 mm; ovary densely reddish-tomentose, style glabrous. Flowering April. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)

Distribution  Taiwan

Habitat 800–2,000 m

RHS Hardiness Rating H5

Conservation status Least concern (LC)

The relatively narrow leaves with a one-layered indumentum and short petioles will distinguish this from the remaining species in Subsect. Argyrophylla. It is little grown as some forms are tender. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)