Rhododendron intricatum

Rhododendron intricatum
Illustration, Curtis's botanical magazine
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Ericaceae
Genus:	Rhododendron
Species:	R. intricatum
Binomial name
Rhododendron intricatum Franch.
Synonyms
Rhododendron blepharocalyx Franch. Rhododendron peramabile Hutch.

Rhododendron intricatum (隐蕊杜鹃) is a rhododendron species native to central and western Sichuan, as well as northern Yunnan, China, where it grows at altitudes of 3,500–4,500 m (11,500–14,800 ft). It is an evergreen shrub that typically grows to 50–100 cm (20–39 in) in height, with leaves that are oblong-elliptic to ovate, and 0.5–1.2 × 0.3–0.7 cm in size. The flowers are pale lavender, purple-blue to dark blue, or rarely yellowish.

This very compact shrub flowers profusely when it is only a few centimetres tall, and is also hardy, being an alpine plant. It is therefore a suitable subject for a rock garden.

References

• Franchet, J. Bot. (Morot). 9: 395. 1895.