Rhododendron orbiculare | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Ericaceae |
Genus: | Rhododendron |
Species: | R. orbiculare
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Binomial name | |
Rhododendron orbiculare |
Rhododendron orbiculare, the round-leaved rhododendron[1] (Chinese: 团叶杜鹃; pinyin: tuányè dùjuān),[2] is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae that is native to forests and slopes at an elevation of 1,400–3,500 m (4,600–11,500 ft) in northeastern Guangxi and southwestern Sichuan, China. It is a compact evergreen shrub growing to 3 m (9.8 ft) tall and broad, with matt-textured round leaves and trusses of deep pink flowers in spring.[1]
In cultivation in the UK Rhododendron orbiculare has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[1][3] It is hardy down to −15 °C (5 °F) but like most rhododendrons it requires a sheltered spot in dappled shade, and an acid soil enriched with leaf mould.