Rhododendrons

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 the clone 'Michael McLaren'

H4

Shrub with a loose habit growing to 1-2.5m in height

Flowers: Trusses of 2-5 rotate-campanulate flowers that open before or with the leaves. Flowers are 23-35mm long × 35-50 mm across; red-purple, bright purplish-rose or deep rose, with olive-green spots on the upper lobe

April-May

Not scented

Foliage: Dark green leaves, 36-90mm long × 13-40mm broad, in clusters of 5 at the end of branchlets; obovate or oblong-obovate; both surfaces densely strigose and bristle toothed on the margin. Deciduous

Distribution: Central Honshu to Hokkaido, Japan at 750 - 2,000m

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.

Best grown in light shade; good autumn colour