WorldFloraDB - Rhododendron ponticum

Characteristics

Large shrub to small tree to 10 m high, often suckering; branchlets with variable indumentum. Leaves: petiole 1–1.5 cm long; lamina narrowly elliptic to obovate, (7–) 10–17 cm long, (1.5–) 3.5–4.5 cm wide, coriaceous, green, paler below, usually initially tomentose below but soon becoming glabrous (glandular hairs persistent), margin entire. Inflorescences usually terminal, 5–20-flowered; peduncles 1.3–7 cm long. Flowers ± zygomorphic, pedicels 2–2.5 cm long, usually glabrous, sometimes with glandular hairs or pubescent; bracts and bracteoles 2.5–3.5 cm long; corolla purplish to pink/violet, campanulate, deeply lobed, 3.5–4 cm long, 1.5–5 cm diam., usually glabrous outside, pubescent inside towards base, tube 1–2.5 cm long, lobes 1.5–2.5 cm long, acute or rounded, upper lobe often with yellowish, yellow-orange or brownish spots or streaks; stamens 10, filaments unequal, pink, white-hairy in lower ½; ovary 5-locular, glabrous; style purple-pink, 3–4 cm long, glabrous; stigma pink. Capsule (1–) 1.5–2.8 cm long.

More

Large evergreen shrub to c. 6 m high. Lvs glabrous; petiole to c. 1.5 cm long, slightly grooved above. Lamina 7-12 × 1.5-4 cm (lvs of young plants often much larger), narrow-elliptic or elliptic-obovate, coriaceous, entire, dark shining green above. Racemes short with usually < 20 fls. Bracts large, scarious, often villous on both sides, glandular-denticulate, caducous. Pedicels 2-2.5 cm long, with very short glandular hairs. Calyx 1.5-5 mm long, irregularly and deeply lobed; margin glandular-ciliolate. Corolla 3.5-4 cm long, campanulate, purple to violet, spotted brown inside on upper lobes; lobes ?-3/4 length of tube, imbricate, undulate, rounded at apex. Stamens 10; filaments 2.5-4 cm long, unequal, hairy in lower 1/2. Style > stamens, glabrous. Ovary glabrous or slightly hairy. Capsule 10-18 mm long, oblong.

A shrub.

Life form

perennial

Growth form

shrub

Growth support

free-standing

Foliage retention

evergreen

Sexuality

hermaphrodite

Pollination

entomogamy

Spread

anemochory

Mature width (meter)

1.75 - 2.5

Mature height (meter)

5.0

Root system

-

Rooting depth (meter)

-

Root diameter (meter)

0.5

Flower color

Blooming months

Jan	Feb	Mar
Apr	May	Jun
Jul	Aug	Sep
Oct	Nov	Dec

Fruit color

-

Fruiting months

-

Nitrogen fixer

-

Photosynthetic pathway

c3

Environment

Rich forests under Fagus, Picea and Abies species, it is also found above the tree line. Sandy and peaty soils in woods and open places in Britain.

More

Naturalising in disturbed areas, near cultivation sites and into natural areas.

It is a temperate plant.

Light
Soil humidity
Soil texture
Soil acidity
Soil nutriment
Hardiness (USDA)

Usage

Cultivated as an ornamental.

Uses	environmental use gene source material medicinal ornamental poison wood
Edible	flowers leaves
Therapeutic use	Antirheumatic agents (flower), Arthritis (flower), Gout (flower), Narcotics (flower), Antirheumatic agents (leaf), Arthritis (leaf), Gout (leaf), Narcotics (leaf), Gout (unspecified), Intoxicant (unspecified), Narcotic (unspecified), Rheumatism (unspecified), Hydrocoele (unspecified)
Human toxicity	-
Animal toxicity	-

Cultivation

Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings.

Mode	cuttings seedlings
Germination duration (days)	50 - 90
Germination temperacture (C°)	12 - 15
Germination luminosity	-
Germination treatment	-
Minimum temperature (C°)	-
Optimum temperature (C°)	-
Size	-
Vigor	-
Productivity	-