Rhododendrons

Rhododendron edgeworthii
Edgeworthia subsection
Epithet: after Edgeworth, Bengal Civil Service, 1812-1881.
H3
AM 1923 Sunninghill (as bullatum),
1946 Bodnant (as bullatum),
FCC 1933 Nymans, 1937 Exbury (as bullatum),
1981 Leonardslee to a clone 'Red Collar', AGM (1993) 2012
Height: 1-2.5m.
10 year height/spread: 1.5m/1m
Flowers: 2-3 per truss of white sometimes flushed pink or red flowers
with a prominent calyx to 6.5cm. Usually fragrant.
April/May.
Introduced: 1851 by Hooker from Sikkim. Collected recently.
Distribution: Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, NE Burma, NW Yunnan, SW Suchuan,
1800 - 3900m.
Recognise by: leggy tomentose growth; the very bullate leaves with their dense
woolly brownish indumentum (with scales hidden underneath) unlike any
other subsection; the fragrant flowers.
Usually epiphytic in the wild, but responds to all but severe pruning. It is
worth trying this delightful fragrant species in sheltered spots outside in
most of the UK, particularly if a form from high altitude can be found. Will
not tolerate water logging, and seems to do well in tree stumps. Beautiful in and
out of flower.