Trees and Shrubs
A division of the Camden Park catalogues that is not clearly defined. In broad terms it includes all plants with woody stems except conifers and fruit trees and shrubs.
Rhododendron indicum Sweet var. spectabilis
Azalea spectabile is probably identical to Azalea indica spectabilis, described as ‘a pretty purple, but only a second rate flower.’ [FC p.138/1848].
Rhododendron javanicum Benn.
A neat shrub or small tree with oblong, dark green, laurel-like leaves and large, compact heads of fleshy, funnel-shaped, rich lemon-coloured to orange, flowers, darker in the centre, approaching to crimson, in winter. To 3m. [RHSD, Hortus, Millais].
Rhododendron lepidotum Wall.
A very variable, shrubby rhododendron with scaly leaves, to 4cm long, and saucer-shaped, scaly, pale yellow, pink or purple flowers in spring. To 1.2m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’, Millais].
Rhododendron luteum Sweet
Fully-hardy, medium-sized deciduous shrub with oblong leaves, to 10cm, which turn to rich shades of crimson, purple and orange in autumn. The strongly fragrant, yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers are born in a rounded truss in spring. To 3.5m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers', Millais].
Rhododendron maximum L.
A tall shrub or small tree with leaves to 10cm long, and compact trusses of slightly fragrant, funnel-shaped, light rose-purple or white flowers, spotted yellow-green inside , in early summer. To 3m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’, Millais].
Rhododendron molle Sieb. and Zucc.
‘A rich yellow, with the upper portion darker. Very pretty. Plant five feet by three.’ [FC p.136/1848].
Rhododendron mucronatum ‘Alba Maculata’
Possibly a cultivar of Rhododendron mucronatum (Blume) D.Don but may be naturally occurring. The type Rhododendron mucronatum is a spreading, semi-evergreen shrub with trusses of 2-3 single, widely funnel-shaped, fragrant, white, occasionally pink flowers. Alba maculata is white with pink markings. To 1.5m. [RHSE, Hilliers', Galle].
Rhododendron nudiflorum ‘Bicolor’
Treated here as a cultivar of Rhododendron nudiflorum Torr. but may be naturally occurring. Millais describes Azalea bicolor as similar to if not identical with Rhododendron nudiflorum Torr. It is a deciduous shrub from the South Eastern USA with oblong leaves, hairy beneath, and scented, funnel-shaped, generally with white or pink-flushed flowers, with a pink or reddish tube, in spring. To 3m. Bicolor has scarlet flowers. [Hilliers', PD, Millais].
Rhododendron nudiflorum ‘Coccinea Major’
Treated here as a cultivar of Rhododendron nudiflorum Torr. but may be naturally occurring. Millais describes Rhododendron nudiflorum, from eastern North America, as a deciduous shrub, to 3m, which produces clusters of 6 or more faintly scented, white to purple flowers. The leaves appear after the flowers. Coccinea major has scarlet flowers.
Rhododendron nudiflorum ‘Incarnata Maxima’
Treated here as a cultivar of Rhododendron nudiflorum Torr. but may be naturally occurring. Sweet describes the flowers of Azalea nudiflora incarnata as flesh coloured. [HB p.265/1826 quoted in Wilson and Rehder p.199].
Rhododendron nudiflorum ‘Rubicunda’
Treated here as a cultivar of Rhododendron nudiflorum Torr. but may be naturally occurring. Millais describes Rhododendron nudiflorum as a deciduous shrub, to 3m, which produces clusters of 6 or more faintly scented, white to purple flowers. The leaves appear after the flowers. Aiton describes the flowers of rutilans as deep red with small calyx. Dumont de Coursay says that the young branchlets and the leaves are pubescent, the calyx greenish brown and the winter buds pale yellow in autumn. [Quoted in Wilson and Rehder p.200]. See Rhododendron nudiflorum ‘Coccinea Major’ and Rhododendron nudiflorum ‘Bicolor’ for further details.
Rhododendron ovatum (Lindl.) Planch. ex Maxim.
Medium sized to large evergreen shrub with dark green, hairless leaves, abruptly ovate or heart-shaped at the stalk, and solitary, saucer-shaped, white, pink or purple flowers with purple spots in summer. To 3.5m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers', Millais].
Rhododendron pallida Dümmer
‘A pretty lilac, flowers large. Plant six feet by three.’ [FC p.136/1848].
Rhododendron phoeniceum G.Don
Described as a good species by Lee. Rhododendron phoeniceum as described by Lee is an evergreen, tall-growing, early-flowering azalea with scarlet-red flowers. This accords with the description given by Galle, who believes that it is probably a hybrid with Rhododendron mucronatum as one parent. A large shrub, to 3m, with purple flowers, the upper segments of which are spotted.
Rhododendron ponticum L.
Vigorous, evergreen shrub with lance-shaped leaves, to 18cm long, and trusses of up to 15 broadly funnel-shaped, lilac-pink to reddish-purple flowers, spotted yellowish-green inside, in early summer. To 8m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’, Don].
