Rhododendrons

Rhododendron canadense

Subgenus Pentanthera Section Rhodora

Species deciduous azalea

Synonym: The Rhodora azalea

Epithet: From Canada

H6

Low growing shrub 0.3-1.2m, sometimes stoloniferous

Flowers: Trusses of 3-6 rotate-campanulate, single flowers, opening before the leaves. Flowers are 16-19mm long; rose-purple or white; 2 lipped, the upper 3 lobes are almost completely joined together while the lower 2 lobes are almost completely divided; tube almost absent; 7- 10 stamens

April-May

Not scented

Foliage: Pale bluish green leaves, oblong, elliptic or oblong-oval. Leaves are 10-83mm long × 4-30mm wide; upper surface strigose; lower surface densely, minutely downy. Good autumn leaf colour. Deciduous

Distribution: Labrador, Newfoundland, Quebec to New England, central New York, NE Pennsylvania, N New Jersey, up to 1900m

Other information: In 1762 Linnaeus named this species as Rhodora canadensis; introduced to the UK by Sir Joseph Banks in 1767

This low growing azalea has distinctive flowers. Easy to grow; prefers damp conditions but likes some sun. Commercially available