Rhododendron dauricum

90-100 seeds Rhododendron dauricum.

Rhododendron dauricum is a rhododendron species native to Eastern Siberia, Mongolia, North China, and Hokkaido, Japan, with purple flowers.

One of the hardiest of Rhododendron species, Rhododendron dauricum is also one of the most widespread. Its natural distribution is from the Altai Mountains in eastern Siberia to Mongolia and Sakhalin Island, northern China and Japan .

Rhododendron dauricum was named by Linnaeus in Species Plantarum in 1753. The specific name relates to the area of collection - Dauria in south-east Siberia , present day Transbaikal. It may have been collected by Messerschmidt in 1736 and was described in a paper by Johann Amman in Stirpium Rariorum Rutheno in 1739.

Rhododendron dauricum, introduced to Britain in 1780, is a compact, deciduous shrub growing to 2 metres but with some of its leaves persisting overwinter. It is very hardy, with reports of plants surviving to -32⁰C, though flowers can be damaged by early frosts. The leaves are thicker than Rhododendron mucronulatum, have rounded tips, are shiny green on the upper surface, densely scaly brown on the undersurface and 3.6cm long. The 1-3 flowers are mostly terminal, widely funnel-shaped, pink to violet-pink and up to 3.5cm in diameter.  Rhododendron dauricum, like most Ericaceae, need moist, acid soil conditions. We grow it in partial shade to give the flowers protection from the early frosts.

USDA Hardiness Zone (°F): 2 (-50 to -40 °F)

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