Kindly sponsored by
Peter Norris, enabling the use of The Rhododendron Handbook 1998
New article for Trees and Shrubs Online.
Recommended citation
'Rhododendron impeditum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.
Compact, much-branched shrub, to 0.9(–1.2) m. Leaves (0.4–)0.5–1.5 × 0.3–0.7 cm, broadly elliptic to ovate or oblong, apex obtuse or acute, mucronulate, lower surface covered with uniformly rusty, markedly to slightly spaced scales. Flowers to 4 per inflorescence; calyx 2.5–4 mm, lobes strap-shaped; corolla violet or purple to rose-lavender, rarely white, broadly funnel-shaped, 7–15 mm; stamens usually 10, about as long as the corolla; ovary scaly, style variable in length shorter or longer than the stamens, glabrous or pubescent towards base. Flowering April-May. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)
Distribution China N Yunnan, SW Sichuan
Habitat 3,300–4,600 m
RHS Hardiness Rating H6
Awards AM 1944 (Sunningdale Nurseries, Windlesham, Surrey) from Rock 11469 ( USDA 59263); flowers violet. AGM 1993
Conservation status Least concern (LC)
Taxonomic note (incl. R. litangense Balf.f. ex Hutch.) Royal Horticultural Society (1997)
This species is similar to R. polycladum but differs in the longer calyx, etc. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)