AuthorCullen, J.
Year2011
TitleNaturalised rhododendrons widespread in Great Britain and Ireland
TypePaper
SourceHanburyana Vol 5: 11-29.
Review (by Malcolm Storey)

Our naturalised Rhododendrons, conventionally recorded as R. ponticum, are a hybrid swarm from four species of the Ponticum group: R. ponticum L. ss. (Portugal, Spain, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia and Lebanon); R. catawbiense Michx. (eastern North America); R. maximum L. (eastern North America) and R. macrophyllum G. Don (western North America).

R. ponticum ss. is a frost-tender, unassuming and shy-flowering shrub, quite unlike our blousy invasive plant. These are a complex mix of similar hybrids which functions as a species, and is apparently endemic to Britain and Ireland.

A key to the four species is given, but most plants will be a mixture, although individual characters may often be taken to imply something of the parentage.

Website urlwww.rhs.org.uk/Plants/RHS-Publications/Journals/Hanburyana/Hanburyan-issues/Volume-5--June-2011

Notes & PurposeStatusTaxonEnglishClassification
For identificationCurrentRhododendron catawbiensea cultivated rhododendronPlantae: Ericales: Ericaceae
For identificationCurrentRhododendron macrophyllumCalifornian RosebayPlantae: Ericales: Ericaceae
For identificationCurrentRhododendron ponticumRhododendronPlantae: Ericales: Ericaceae
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