Emu Valley Newsletter – October 2024

• Date: 5th October 2024
• author: Maurie Kupsch

RHODODENDRON CALOPHYTUM

We have waited quite a while for R. calophytum to flower. However the wait is over and we now have six plants with flowers, all the same colour, but beautiful.

R. calophytum is a native of western Sichuan, where it can grow to 15m. Hopefully less than half that here, but still quite spectacular. It was described by Franchet in 1886 from plants collected at Moupin, where it was found growing in woods and forests. Other collectors noted that it was common in the forests of western Sichuan. It was introduced by Wilson in 1904 and many times since by others.

R. calophytum has large leathery oblanceolate leaves up to 30cm. Long, upper surface glabrous, under surface covered with scattered hairs. The flower truss is also large, having up to 30 widely campanulate flowers, which can be white, white tinged pink, pink or purple with a dark blotch at the base. The plants growing at Emu Valley are to be found in the Sichuan section in the NE corner of the garden. All have white flowers with a red blotch at the base. There are still more plants to flower, maybe a different colour.

To read the current activities in the Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden please download their newsletter.