Rhododendron pulchrum

Rhododendron pulchrum, also identified as Rhododendron x pulchrum is a rhododendron endemic to China. It grows as a semi-evergreen shrub, 1.5–2.5 meters in height, with leaf blades leathery, elliptic-oblong to elliptic-lanceolate or oblong-oblanceolate, 2–5(–7) × 1–2.5 cm in size. Flowers are rose-purple with dark red flecks. Hirsutum describes it as “a natural hybrid; seed x pollen= R. mucronatum var mucronatum x R. indicum var formosanum“.

The plant grows with fine textured and leathery leaves, magnificent and showy blossoms in Spring. With its purlish pink flowers, the plant is cultivated as decorative plants along the roads and bridges.

This species has long been cultivated in China and worldwide. A number of cultivars of different flower colour and slightly different vegetative morphology are available and at least two cultivars are present in Hong Kong.

The video below shows the varieties of Rhododendron and how we can cultivate Rhododendron species well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAbRqxZtGE8