Rhododendron strigillosum
Rhododendron strigillosum, a small evergreen tree or shrub, is one of the finest species in the genus. Scarlet flowers with black nectar pouches arrive in early March when winter is just finishing up. We need flowers, especially red ones, to lift us into spring. And you can’t miss these tubular bell-shaped ones. They occur in an inflorescence of eight to twelve flowers.
This rhododendron is a superb foliage plant too. Its beautiful leaves are long, narrow and down-curved with an impressed midrib. If you look closely, you will see leaf stalks with long hair. These hairs (called ‘tomentose’) protect the plant from weather extremes and insect damage.
Rhododendron strigillosum is native to southwestern China. It grows in the mountains of Sichuan and Yunnan in open thickets and woodlands right up to 3400 m/11,000 ft. If you are lucky enough to get ahold of this rare rhododendron, it grows best in light shade with good drainage. But R. strigillosum is hard to find as it doesn’t root easily from cuttings.
Info on the science of nectar.
Text and photos by Hughie Jones
The photos were taken in the Fern Dell in early March 2024.