Emu Valley Newsletter – October 2017

• Date: 5th October 2017
• author: Maurie Kuscph

R. OREODOXA var FARGESII

Rhododendron fargesii was first discovered by Pere Farges (so named after him) between 1891 and 1894 at Techenkeou-tin in east Sichuan. Also by E. H.Wilson in western Hupeh and in Sichuan. In 1932 it was again collected at Pei-ma shan, Mekong-Yangtze Divide, north-west Yunnan growing in mixed forests at elevations of 2000-4000 metres.

Usually a shrub from 1-6 metres in the wild but in cultivation may only reach half this height. The leaves are oblong-elliptic, the upper surface olive-green and underside pale glaucous and covered with minute pimples. Flowers can be white, pink, rose or deep rose with or without spots and will have between 5 and 10 per truss. Rhododendron fargesii is closely related to R. oreodoxa and has been made a variety of the latter.

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