Rhododendron williamsianum (Chinese: 圆叶杜鹃; pinyin: yuányè dùjuān),[2] the Williams rhododendron,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae. It is native to forested slopes at 1,800–2,800 m (5,900–9,200 ft) in western Guizhou, southwestern Sichuan, southeastern Xizang and northeastern Yunnan in southern and western China.
| Rhododendron williamsianum | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Rhododendron |
| Species: | R. williamsianum
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| Binomial name | |
| Rhododendron williamsianum | |
Growing to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) tall and broad, it is a compact evergreen shrub with rounded matt green leaves and rose pink bell-shaped flowers in spring.
In cultivation in the UK, Rhododendron williamsianum has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3][4] It is hardy down to −15 °C (5 °F) but like most rhododendron species requires a sheltered position in dappled shade with acid soil that has been enriched with leaf mould.
The name williamsianum is in honour of the Cornish plantsman John Charles Williams, who developed many shrubs and trees of importance to horticulture.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Rhododendron williamsianum Rehder & E.H.Wilson". Tropicos. Missouri Botanical Gardens. Retrieved 7 October 2018 – via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
- ^ Fang, Mingyuan; Chamberlain, David F. "Rhododendron williamsianum". Flora of China. Vol. 14. Retrieved 7 October 2018 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
- ^ a b "RHS Plantfinder - Rhododendron williamsianum". Retrieved 7 October 2018.
- ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 85. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- ^ "Rhododendron Williamsianum". Trees and Shrubs Online. International Dendrology Society. Retrieved 20 December 2023.