Rhododendron albrechtii
Subgenus Pentanthera Section Sciadorhodion
Species deciduous azalea
Epithet: after Dr M. Albrecht, a Russian naval surgeon
AM 1943 (Bodnant),FCC 1962 (Bodnant) to clone 'Michael McLaren', AGM 1993
H4
Shrub with a lax habit growing to 0.9-2.4m in height
Flowers: Trusses of 2-5 rotate-campanulate, single flowers that open before or with the leaves. Flowers are 23-35mm long × 35-50 mm wide; red-purple, bright purplish-rose or deep rose, with olive-green spots on the upper lobe; 10 stamens
April-May
Not scented
Foliage: Dark green leaves, 21-135mm long × 9-63mm wide, in clusters of 5 at the end of branchlets, obovate or oblong-obovate, both surfaces densely strigose and bristle-toothed on the margin. Good autumn leaf colour. Deciduous
Distribution: Central Honshu to Hokkaido, Japan at 750 - 2,300m
Other information: Discovered by Michael Albrecht in 1860, growing in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan. Seed sent by both Charles Sargent (1892) and Ernest Wilson (1914) to the Arnold Arboretum
Easy to grow; best grown in light shade but does need some sun. Commercially available
Photo: Philippe de Spoelberch
Location: Wales
Photo: Liz O'Neill
Location: Dorset
Photo: Robin Whiting
Caerhays Estate
Location: Reuthes Sevenoaks Kent
Photo: Polly Cooke