Rhododendron hypopitys

The homeland of Rhododendron hypopitys is the Far East. Evergreen strongly branched bushy stantium up to 2 m in height; annual growths are reddish-brown, thickened, up to 8 mm in diameter, shortly pubescent, old branches with grayish bark. Leaf buds are conical, pointed, 15 mm long., 6 mm in diameter; l. (without black) 9-15 cm long. and 2-5 (7) cm wide, broadly oval, dense, leathery, bright green above, light below, gradually tapering into a wedge-shaped base, with flat or slightly curved on the bottom. side edges, col. in short umbellate scutes. Flowers 4-6 cm long., Rusty tomentose pubescent. Corolla about 3 cm long., 4.5 cm in diameter., Broadly bell-shaped, yellow, incised to the middle into rounded lobes. It grows mainly in coniferous forests, spruce-fir, less often in larch forests. Endemic.

 

A very rare species of rhododendron in culture. The type species is described from the Khabarovsk Territory, North. Sikhote-Alin. This species has a well-defined range, the border of which, however, is somewhat vague on the mainland.

 

USDA Hardiness Zone (°F): 3 (-40 to -30 °F)