Kindly sponsored by
Peter Norris, enabling the use of The Rhododendron Handbook 1998
New article for Trees and Shrubs Online.
Recommended citation
'Rhododendron sanctum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.
Tree, to 5 m; young shoots becoming glabrous. Leaves in whorls of up to three, at the ends of the branches, 3–8 × 2.5–6 cm, broadly rhombic, apex acuminate, lower surface glabrous except for a few hairs persisting on the midrib; petioles densely covered with red-brown hairs. Pedicels densely pilose. Flowers 3–4 per inflorescence, appearing before the leaves; calyx minute; corolla rose-pink (rarely white), with darker flecks on upper lobe, funnel-campanulate, 25–35 mm; stamens 10; ovary densely pilose, style pilose in lower half. Flowering May-June. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)
Distribution Japan Hondo
Habitat 300–500 m
RHS Hardiness Rating H6
Conservation status Endangered (EN)
This species is closely allied to R. amagianum (q.v.). Royal Horticultural Society (1997)