Rhododendron montroseanum Cowan & Davidian

Sponsor

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

Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Rhododendron montroseanum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/rhododendron/rhododendron-montroseanum/). Accessed 2024-09-19.

Genus

Rhododendron
Subsect. Grandia

Synonyms

Rhododendron mollyanum Cowan & Davidian, not R. mollianum Koorders

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

indumentum: A covering of hairs or scales.

References

Royal Horticultural Society (1997). The Rhododendron Handbook 1998

Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Rhododendron montroseanum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/rhododendron/rhododendron-montroseanum/). Accessed 2024-09-19.

Rhododendron montroseanum in full bloom at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 30th March 2021. Image Tom Christian.

Tree 12–15 m; bark rough. Leaves 20–30(–50) × 5.5–10(–20) cm, oblanceolate, apex rounded, apiculate, lower surface covered with a thin one-layered silvery compacted indumentum; petioles terete. Flowers c.20, 8-lobed, in a dense truss, rose-pink, with a crimson blotch at base, ventricose-campanulate, nectar pouches lacking, c.50 mm; stamens 16; ovary densely rufous-tomentose. Flowering March-May. Royal Horticultural Society (1997).

Distribution Myanmar ?NE China S Tibet

Habitat c.2,600 m

RHS Hardiness Rating H4

Awards FCC 1957 (Younger Botanic Garden, Argyll) to a clone 'Benmore' from Kingdon-Ward 6261a; flowers Fuchsine Pink, with deep pink staining and a crimson blotch.

Conservation status Least concern (LC)

Taxonomic note This species may be distinguished by the pink flowers and the silvery leaf indumentum. Royal Horticultural Society (1997).

See R. mollyanum, page 722.

R. pudorosum, mentioned under R. mollyanum, is accepted as a distinct species in the Edinburgh revision.

This Rhododendron montroseanum, of uncertain age and provenance, has formed a beautiful, small tree in the upper woodland garden at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. 30th March 2021. Image Tom Christian.

Rhododendron montroseanum flowering in the upper woodland garden at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. 30th March 2021. Image Tom Christian.

Rhododendron montroseanum. Valley Gardens, Windsor Great Park, UK.15 March 2021. Image John Anderson.

Close up of flower trusses on Rhododendron montroseanum 'Benmore', raised from KW 6261A. Valley Gardens, Windsor Great Park, UK. March 2017. Image John Anderson.

Foliage on Rhododendron montroseanum at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK (17 April 2023). Image Jan De Langhe.

Leaves on Rhododendron montroseanum, with the lamina oblong to oblanceolate (Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK – 17 April 2023). Image Jan De Langhe.

Bud with caudate scales and thinly whitish tomentose branchlet on Rhododendron montroseanum (Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK – 17 April 2023). Image Jan De Langhe.

Thin indumentum on lamina lower surface of Rhododendron montroseanum (Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK – 17 April 2023). Image Jan De Langhe.

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