TROPICAL RHODODENDRONS
Zone 10
Most are epiphytic like orchids and native to cool high elevation areas in the southeast Asian tropics unless otherwise noted. Require loose, well-drained medium of bark and peat-Not soil! Most suitable for containers in shade or indoors. Images above names and descriptions.
RHODODENDRON SPECIES
R. aurigeranum
Tall growing shrub or small tree with dark green, narrow elliptical leaves arranged in pseudowhorls. Spectacular trusses of large, bright yellow, funnel-shaped flowers appear mid-winter to early summer. Native to mountains of Papua New Guinea.
6" pot---$9.00
R. brookeanum
Attractive, compact shrub of glossy, pointed elliptical leaves. Spectacular trusses of 10-12 large salmon pink, funnel-shaped flowers appear above foliage in the fall and winter. Tolerates hot tropical conditions. Native to many islands of Indonesia from sea level to 5,000 feet (1,500 meters). One of the best!
6" pot---$9.50
R. christianae
Upright shrub of shiny, dark green, obovate leaves. Trusses of small yellow flowers blushed orange on the perimeter of the petals with greenish-yellow centers. Blooms at intervals throughout the year.
6" pot---$8.00
R. goodenoughii
Attractive shrub with shiny, dark green, spatulate leaves and white, upward curving tubular flowers having a sweet fragrance.
6" pot---$13.00
R. jasminiflorum
Small, oval leaves and trusses of very light pink, flared tubular flowers having a sweet fragrance. This small plant is slow growing and excellent for pots.
6" pot---$9.50
R. javanicum
Beautiful shrub of dark green, elliptical leaves which contrast dramatically with bright, pumpkin orange, funnel-shaped flowers in full rounded trusses. Widespread on islands of Indonesia and grows at a range of elevations. Flower color variable in the wild. Tolerates hot tropical conditions better than most other species.
6" pot---$10.00
R. konori
Very large, dark pink, funnel-shaped flowers with 5 petals have a strong carnation-like fragrance. Spectacular in bloom! Thick, elliptical leaves with minute, brown scales give the foliage a brownish cast.
6" pot---$16.00
R. konori var. phaeopeplum
Tall shrub with leathery, elliptical leaves covered with minute brown scales. Flowers are large, pinkish-white, funnel-shaped, and fragrant. Spectacular!
6 " pot---$16.00
R. laetum
Tall, shrub with glossy, broadly elliptical leaves arranged in pseudowhorls. Large, golden yellow, funnel-shaped flowers are spectacular. Native to the mountains of Irian Jaya, New Guinea at 6,000 to 7,500 foot (1,800-2,300 meters) elevation.
6" pot---$9.00
R. loranthiflorum
Densely-branched shrub with shiny, obovate leaves adorned with flared tubular (salverform), white flowers having a sweet fragrance. Grows at a maximum elevation of 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) in the Solomon Islands. Tolerates warmer, tropical conditions than most other species.
6" pot---$11.50
R. praetervisum
Small, upright shrub with hanging, tubular, pinkish-purple flowers. Foliage consists of shiny, narrow leaves with downward curled margins.
6" pot---$11.00
R. superbum
Shrub with thick, leathery, elliptical leaves with brown scales. Spectacular, large, white, trumpet-shaped flowers are fragrant. Native to high mointains of New Guinea.
6" pot---$16.00
R. wrightianum
Small, erect branching shrub with obovate leaves. Dark red, slightly hanging, funnel-shaped flowers contrast sharply with dark green foliage. Native to mid-elevation level in New Guinea.
6" pot---$11.00
R. zoelleri
Tall ,upright shrub or small tree with large elliptical leaves. Spectacular, huge, funnel-shaped flowers of bright yellow with vivid orange perimeters. The yellow and orange are so striking that they appear to fluoresce. Individual flowers are 2 to 2 1/2 inches (5-6.4 cm) in diameter and set in large open trusses. Tolerates warm conditions. Native to Papua New Guinea at a range of elevations.
6" pot---$9.00
NAMED VARIETIES
R. 'Aravir'
Fragrant, white, trumpet-shaped flowers are large and waxy. Compact shrub.
6" pot---$10.00
R. 'Belisar'
Tall, upright branching shrub of medium-sized elliptical leaves that produces a profusion of picotee bright yellow and red perimeter flowers. Striking intense show of color!
6" pot---$9.00
R. 'Calavar'
Large, dark pink, trumpet-shaped flowers with creamy yellow throats. Individual flowers are 2 to 2 1/2 inches (5-6.4 cm) in diameter and set in trusses of 5 to 6. Carnation-like fragrance. Attractive large, leathery, oval leaves. One of the best varieties.
6" pot---$12.50
R. 'Cephus'
Giant, soft pink trumpet-shaped flowers are thick and waxy. Each flower is 3 1/2 inches (9 cm) in diameter! Enormous leaves are elliptical, leathery, and dark green. Slow growing. One of the most beautiful and sought-after tropical Rhododendrons. Propagation very slow and difficult.
6 " pot---$24.00
R. 'Christo Rey'
Tall, upright branching shrub is similiar to Belisar. Produces an abundance of bright yellow and orange picotees that almost cover the plant.
6" pot---$9.00
R. 'Clorinda'
Deep coral pink, trumpet-shaped flowers in a rounded truss. Attractive foliage plant.
6 " pot---$9.00
R. 'Emmanuel'
Upright, densely- branched shrub of dark green elliptical leaves. Beautiful, 2 1/2 inch (6.4 cm) red flowers with cream-colored throats in large trusses.
6 " pot---$12.50
R. 'Eversole Hybrid'
Upright-growing shrub with dark yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers. The big yellow flowers are striking!
6 " pot---$10.00
R. 'George Budgen'
Beautiful hybrid of large, shiny, elliptical leaves and compact growth habit. Salmon-colored, funnel-shaped flowers in domed trusses. Blooms abundantly in the fall. One of the best varieties.
6" pot---$10.00
R. 'Jock's Cairn'
Attractive, vigorous shrub with narrow pointed, elliptical leaves. Similiar to 'George Budgen'. Large, rounded trusses of 10-12 pink, funnel-shaped flowers.
6" pot---$10.00
R. 'Just Peachy'
Pastel orange, trumpet-shaped flowers in full trusses. Attractive shiny, pointed leaves. Short, broad growth habit.
6" pot---$9.00
R. 'Marshall Pierce Madison'
Pink, trumpet-shaped flowers in huge trusses emit a delightful fragrance. The impressive flowers provide a spectacular display against the large, elliptical leaves. This upright, thick stemmed plant is slow growing. Slow and difficult to propagate. Rare.
6" pot---$17.00
R. 'Mt. Kaindi'
Creamy peach, funnel-shaped flowers in rounded trusses gradually fade to a creamy-yellow with a slight peach tone towards center. Semi-compact shrub of dark green, narrow, elliptical leaves having a brownish cast from minute hairs. New growth is a soft, gray with a tan midrib in expanding leaves.
6" pot---$12.00
R. 'Nancy Miller Adler'
Compact bush with shiny, oval leaves and small, white, fragrant flowers.
6" pot---$9.50
R. 'Narnia'
Pastel, yellow-orange funnels are 3 inches (7 cm) in diameter in open trusses. Tall growth habit, but performs well when pruned after each bloom.
6" pot---$9.00
R. 'Ne Plus Ultra'
Old hybrid from Europe is still known as one of the best red flowering tropical Rhododendrons today. Brilliant red, funnel-shaped flowers in full rounded trusses contrast beautifully with the dark green foliage. Shiny, pointed, elliptical leaves make the plant attractive even when not in bloom. Flowering usually peaks in November.
6 " pot---$10.00
R. 'Orange Maid'
Small, open branched shrub with shiny, dark green elliptical leaves and almost spherical trusses of 12 small, yellow funnel-shaped flowers with orange perimeters.
6" pot---$9.50
R. 'Red Prince'
Coral pink, not red, flared tubular-type flowers are set in rounded trusses. Blooms profusely from October to January. Compact growth habit makes the plant suitable for containers.
6" pot---$7.50
R. 'Saint Valentine'
Scarlet-red, bell-shaped flowers hang downward in pairs like little ornaments adorning the small, shiny dark green leaves that are 1/2 to 1 inch (1-2.5 cm) long. Excellent as a hanging basket or small pot plant.
6" pot---$7.00
R. 'Santa Lucia'
Light pink, funnel-shaped flowers with darker pink centers are huge and create a dramatic display over the foliage. The shiny, oval dark green leaves are covered with minute brown dots and leaf stems are rust brown.
6" pot---$13.00
R. 'Silver Thimbles'
Miniature Rhododendron with tiny, shiny, oval leaves and little, white, hanging flowers with purplish centers. Good plant for hanging baskets and small pots.
6" pot---$7.50
R. 'Souvenir de J.H. Mangles'
Old Veitch hybrid from Europe with full, compact growth habit. Salmon pink, funnel-shaped flowers in large, rounded trusses. Prolific bloomer in the fall. One of the best varieties to this day.
6" pot---$7.50
R. 'Sunny's Brother'
Open-branched shrub with shiny, oval to round, dark green leaves. Tight, almost spherical trusses of 10 small, yellow flowers with orange perimeters are striking. Well-pruned plants will provide a profuse display of blooms. Sibling of the variety, Sunny, in Australia.
6" pot---$9.50
R. 'Taylori'
Old hybrid with full growth habit and shiny, leathery, elliptical leaves and red stems. Rounded trusses of bright pink flowers almost cover the plants. Good for small containers.
6" pot---$8.00
R. 'Triumphans'
Scarlet, funnel-shaped flowers in full, rounded trusses contrast beautifully with the dark green , pointed leaves. Reverse cross of Ne Plus Ultra'.
6" pot---$10.50
R. 'Tropic Fanfare'
Coral pink, funnel-shaped flowers are 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter and hang slightly in evenly distributed large trusses. Attractive, densely-branched shrub of shiny, oval to broadly elliptical leaves.
6" pot---$10.00
R. 'Vladimir Bukovsky'
Small shrub with shiny, elliptical to obovate leaves and trusses of 7-12 brilliant orange, funnel-shaped flowers with bright yellow throats. Good for containers.
6" pot---$9.00
UNNAMED RHODODENDRON HYBRIDS
R. aurigernum x brookeanum
Bright orange, funnel-shaped flowers with slight red blush on perimeters of petals occur in rounded trusses of 10. Shiny, lanceolate leaves with thin red margins on upright growing red stems make this hybrid uniquely attractive.
6" pot---$10.50
R. christianae x konori
Moderately growing shrub with large oval leaves. Flowers have 5 waxy petals of vivid, dark pink fading to bright yellow centers and strong carnation-like fragrance.
6" pot---$12.00
R. laetum x zoelleri
Tall shrub of large, elliptical leaves and spectacular 3-4 inch (7-10 cm) diameter flowers of fluorescent yellow with bright orange perimeters. Similiar to R. zoelleri.
6' pot---$9.00
R. leucogigas x zoelleri
Beautiful Rhododendron with large leaves to 5 inches long (13 cm) and trusses of thick, waxy, pinkish-white, fragrant flowers. Slow growing, thick-stemmed plant. Slow and difficult to propagate. Supply limited.
6" pot---$13.00
R. (laetum x zoelleri) x ( macgregoriae x zoelleri) x javanicum
Outstanding hybrid in both foliage and flowers. Beautiful large, shiny, broadly elliptical leaves on thick red stems. New growth is bronze-colored and entire plant becomes reddish-bronze during cool weather. Spectacular trusses with bright orange, funnel-shaped flowers with red blushed perimeters and brilliant yellow centers.
6" pot---$12.00
R. lochae x aurigeranum
Huge, deep pink funnel-shaped flowers are 2 to 3 inches (5-7.6 cm) in diameter and bent slightly downward in a circular truss of 8. Upright shrub of dark green, elliptical leaves. One of the best tropical Rhododendrons.
6" pot---$12.00
R. (laetum x zoelleri) x (zoelleri x lochae)
Open-branched, wide spreading shrub with broadly elliptical, leathery leaves and red stems. Plant becomes a spectacular show of vivid pink, yellow-centered, funnel flowers in abundant clusters several times a year, most notably in the fall.
6" pot---$8.50
R. (lochae x laetum) x (zoelleri x leucogigas)
Semi-compact shrub with large, leathery, dark green, obovate leaves and red stems. Large, pastel yellow, pinkish-orange blushed funnel flowers with wavy petals. Flowers are 2 to 2 1/2 inches (5-6.5 cm) in diameter. One of the most attractive overall for flowers, growth habit, and foliage. Slow growing. Propagation difficult and supply limited.
6" pot---$14.00
R. 'Red Prince' x lochae
Pinkish-orange, funnel flowers in clusters hang slightly on their pedicels over full canopy of dark green, elliptical leaves. Produces a spectacular display on a compact shrub.
6" pot---$11.50
R. 'Sir George Holford' x leucogigas
Large, funnel-shaped, reddish-pink flowers in large trusses. Leaves are 4 to 5 inches ( 10-13 cm) long, elliptical, dark green, and leathery. Slow growing shrub with thick stems.
6" pot---$12.00
R. zoelleri x jasminiflorum
Light pink, flared trumpet flowers 1 1/2 to 2 inches (3-5 cm) in diameter borne in trusses of 6 periodically throughout the year. Open-branched habit and shiny, ovate leaves.
6" pot---$10.00
R. zoelleri x konori
Soft pink, funnel-shaped flowers with a yellow center. Six petals open to a broad face 2 to 3 inches (5-7.5 cm) in diameter. Dark green leaves are large with brownish tinge from tiny scales. Tall growth habit, but slow.
6" pot---$11.00
R. zoelleri x lochae
Small shrub with dark green, elliptical leaves with thin red margins and red stems. Bright pink, funnel-shaped flowers in full trusses are similiar to 'Taylori'.
6" pot---$9.00