Rhododendron leucaspis
Photo: Maurice Foster
Boothia subsection
AM 1929 Exbury, FCC 1944 Exbury
H3
Height: to 1.0m, usually much less.
10 year height/spread: 0.4/1.0m
Flowers: white with prominent dark
anthers to stamens. March/April
Introduced 1924 by Kingdon Ward
from the Tsangpo Gorge
Distribution: S.E. Tibet 2500-3600m
Recognise by: flower colour and shape
(see epithet),densely bristly shoots,
petioles and leaves; glaucous lower
leaves with close black scales.
Epithet: white shield
Kingdon Ward's favourite dwarf rhodo,
but the early flowers can be caught by
spring frosts.