WHY SPECIES VIREYAS SHOULD BE IN YOUR LIFE.
SPECIES VIREYA RHODODENDRONS as of October 16, 2011
Species are the plants that you find in native areas around the world. Some people say that “Species Are The Real Thing”. We think species Vireyas are a lot of fun to grow and flower. Some may be a bit more “fussy” than hybrids but once you learn their preferences they reward you with their many charms. Species have beautiful and unusual foliage and flower shapes. Every species is completely different from other species. The smaller leafed alpine miniatures do not thrive in the warmer, more humid regions, but make ideal plants in cooler zones. The larger, more exotic species add zest to sunrooms and greenhouse displays. You may become addicted like we are.
Many Vireyas can grow either as an epiphytic plant (growing on another plant but deriving no nourishment from it) or as a terrestrial plant (growing in the ground). After the plant name and before the country it is native to we show these traits as [ E or T or both ]. Is it important? What is important is the fact that almost all species Rhododendrons around the world grow on the edge of the forest where there is lots of light. They only grow in trees when that is where the light is. Epiphytic plants seem to require very sharp drainage.
About the estimated size of the plants at 10 years age: Please remember that here at Bovees our plants are growing in the Pacific Northwest of America so our light levels change radically in spring and fall. Almost all Vireyas come from native areas with 12 hour days all year long. We do not supplement with artificial light except in the propagation house. Our collection of Vireyas are grown entirely in containers, which could be moved outside after the last frost, generally sometime in April, to enjoy the summer, and be moved back in before the first frost in the fall, around October 30th.
We do have one important piece of advice for people who say they don’t have a greenhouse for over-wintering. Vireyas can “survive’ those 5 months inside if the air in your tight, dry home can be modified by using a small “plug-in” dish fountain near the plants and probably as much light as possible for a 12 hour day. A plant tray with pebbles or pea gravel with water below the level of the pots bottoms to keep the humidity higher, plus daily misting, is a second choice. Some people have what they call a “plant room” in their house where a lot of plants grow and they are able to keep the heat lower and the humidity higher. These plant rooms work well. Vireyas grown in Florida, California and the Hawaiian Islands have a much longer growing season.
Our second important piece of advice: Don’t be afraid to prune your plants! And don’t wait too long to do it. We are still trying to catch up after a couple of years of minimal pruning, while our Vireya “jungle” did what jungles do.
Note about scales on Vireyas. Vireya Rhododendrons are scaly leafed plants (also known as lepidotes) as are many of the smaller hardy Rhododendrons. Some Vireyas are noticeably more scaly than others, having a dusting of reddish or brown on the leaves, stems and sometimes the flowers. Scales have a sandpaper feel and are often an attractive feature. Some scales wash off during the season. Don’t worry about them and don’t rub them off!
Please call and ask about availability of any species not listed. 1-866-652-3219
J = good for beginners and is based on the ability to bloom reasonably young and to maintain a small to moderate size.
T = terrestrial E = Epiphytic CW = Collected in the wild PNG = Papua New Guinea (Eastern portion of the island)
Papua = Western half of the island of New Guinea, has been called Irian Jaya, West Irian, West New Guinea, and Netherlands New Guinea. The name Papua has recently been granted by the Indonesian Upper House.
USNA = CW by the US National Arboretum RBGE = Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
V### = Numbers we use at Bovees Nursery.
RSF numbers are from the Rhododendron Species Foundation
Retail price schedule:
Almost all of the listed species have photos. All you have to do is to click on the name.
Many of the following species are listed as 1 year old plants. Our 1 year old plants are well rooted, branched and are ready to leave home (here). We can also hold your plant order until spring at no extra charge.
R. alborugosum V 717 [T] Native to Kalimantan (Southern Borneo) at 1,800m (almost 6,000ft). As the species name suggests, this plant has white flowers and rugose leaves. Collected in southern Kalimantan (Borneo) by George Argent from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. The very distinctive, shiny, bullated leaves on this upright growing plant make it stand out from other Vireya species. It is a terrestrial plant with tubular flowers and a wide flaring corolla, 6 to 10 per truss. Fragrant and very special. Although it may grow to 3 meters (9/10 feet) in the wild, our main plant has never reached 4 feet in height. 1 yr C
R. armittii V438 RSF 87/037 [T] New Guinea, Milne Bay district. Grows to 2.5 meters in the wild, but is easily maintained at 3 to 5 feet at our nursery. Vertical bush shape with attractive medium size foliage. Older plants bloom regularly. White to pale pink tubular flowers that are scented. 1 yr B
J R. aurigeranum [T] PNG 900 – 1,800m, 2,950 - 6,000ft. Tall grower with handsome dark green pointed foliage. Large lemon yellow trumpets, eight to fourteen flowers to a well-shaped truss. One of the best yellows. V138 From John Rouse. 1 B
R. blackii [TE] V154 Papua New Guinea. A very handsome plant, slow growth to moderate size. In the wild it can grow to 3 meters. Wonderful large round leaves, (almost sessile) and long tubular dark red flowers. However, very slow to begin blooming. Rare. 2 yr C
R. caliginis [E] V399 RSF 89/003 Papua New Guinea. A small, many branched shrub to 50cm (20 inches) in the wild and also in our greenhouse. Characterized by slender, twiggy branchlets and narrow linear leaves covered with dense red-brown scales on both sides. Small, vertically hanging flowers are pale yellow and also covered with brown scales. A really unique looking plant and fun to grow. 1 yr B Photo by Chris Callard at www.vireya.net
R. carringtoniae V310 [TE] PNG 1,830 – 2,440m, 5,900 – 8,000ft. Upright shrub to 4-5 feet for us. Attractive foliage provides a setting for the fragrant white flowers, trumpet shaped, held in an erect truss of 5 to 6. 1 yr C
J R. celebicum V670 [E] Sulawesi (Celebes) an island south of the Philippines and east of Borneo. 1,800 – 2,600m, 5,900 – 8,200ft. This clone was CW by John Farbarik and Keith Adams. Smallish well-branched plant to 1.5 meters in the wild, with pink hanging flowers. Free flowering at a young age. 1, 3 yr B (We hope to have the red flowered form available next year).
J R. christi V48 [T E] PNG & Papua 1,200 – 3,000m, 3,900 – 9,800ft. Widespread in its native habitat. A sprawling twining plant suitable for a hanging basket. Wonderful bi-color, red and yellow flowers in trusses of 2 to 4 are a striking sight against the dark green glossy foliage. Easy to grow and flowers at a young age. 2 yr B
R. cruttwellii V362 [T] 1860 to 2600 meters, 5,900 to 8,500 feet Papua New Guinea In the wild this species becomes a tree at 6 meters (20 ft). In our greenhouse it barely reaches 3 feet after many years. The erect trusses, 4 to 9 flowers, open up to pure white trumpet shaped flowers with fragrance. Easily grown. 1 year B
R. culminicola var. culminicola V607 [T] New Guinea, wide spread. 24000-4000m, 6,500 - 13,200 ft. In its native home this shrub or tree can reach 8 meters in height or 24 feet. We are able to enjoy a moderate size bush of 3 to 4 feet in height. This species has rounded, glossy, dark green leaves, forming a background for open trusses of 4 to 9 flowers, sometimes bright red and occasionally pink. 1 yr B Ours is the pink form.
R. edanoi ssp. pneumonanthum V568 [E] Northern Borneo 1700 to 2400 m, 5,500 to 6,200 ft. Epyphytic in montane mossy forest. Shrub or small tree to 3 meters, 3 to 5 feet for us. This was introduced in 1984 by our friend, Keith Adams. The thick, leathery, dark green leaves, are a good background for the white with pink flowers in trusses of 12 to 20, tubular flared and not fragrant. A few 4 yr C Photo by Chris Callard at www.vireya.net
J R. goodenoughii V53 [T E] PNG & Goodenough Island. 800-1,500m; 2,600-4,900 ft. Moderate to tall grower with large rounded leaves, and long tubular-flared white flowers with 8 to 22 per truss. The flowers are often fragrant. A great species that is easy to grow. The new flowers are held upright by the flower bud scales which soon fall away allowing the flowers to form a rounded truss. 1 yr B
R. herzogii V 434 [T E] Papua New Guinea. 1,600-2,500m, 5,200-8,200 ft. Moderate grower with attractive dark gray-green leaves and long tubular- flared flowers, white or pink flushed and fragrant, 5-10 flowers per upright truss. This species always has aromatic foliage. 1 yr B
R. hyacinthosmum V170 [T E] Papua New Guinea 1,800 - 2,000m, 5,900 to 6,500 ft. A very slow growing shrub that can get tall after many years. The very distinctive leaves are ovate elliptic, very stiff, with the edges rolled under. Trusses of 2 to 7 large light pink flowers that have the wonderful fragrance of hyacinths. 1 yr C
R. intranervatum V734 [ E] Borneo (Sarawak and W. Kalimantan) 600 to 1050m (1,968 to 3,300 ft) A conversation piece in our collection, sometimes described as bizarre but not unattractive. Grows to 40cm, about 16 inches tall, in the wild. Our plant is 8 inches tall and 19 inches wide. The largest leaf is 7 inches long and 4 inches wide. The pale green leaves are thick and stiff with prominent veins above and broadly impressed beneath. It has light yellow flowers, 2 to 10 in a truss, funnel shaped to 2 inches long. This species is related to the R. javanicum complex but is quite distinct. Our plant is "on loan" from Dick Cavender. This plant is epiphytic in Agathis forest on waterlogged, white, acid sands or on granite rock faces at 600 to 1050 meters altitude. 1 year old $20.00 limit one per order. SORRY, SOLD OUT FOR NOW Photo by David Binney
R. jasminiflorum ssp. oblongiflorum V610 Malaysia peninsula, and Northern Borneo Sea level to 1,000m (0 to 3,200 ft.) Leaves narrowly elliptic to 75mm. Flowers are like Jasminum, sweetly scented, and are long and narrow (trumpet-shaped). All R. jasminiflorum plants are easy plants to grow and flower. 2 year B
J R. jasminiflorum ssp. jasminiflorum (Syn: jasmin-- var. punctatum) V580, V302 [E T] Malay Peninsula. Sea level to 3,100m, 0 – 10,000ft. Most common at 1,000m, 3,300ft. A compact plant with small leaves, perfect for a hanging basket. Easy to grow and flower, with many fragrant trusses of white tubular flowers sometimes very pale pink. 2 yr B
R. javanicum ssp. javanicum [E] 800 to 2,550m, 2,600 - 8,000 ft. This low altitude forest epiphyte has large shiny, pointed leaves. It can grow to 5 meters in the wild (over 16 feet) but not in our greenhouse where some may reach 4 feet in time. Bright orange flowers may have violet markings in the throat. This beautiful species has probably been in cultivation since 1845, having been collected for Veitch's Nurseries in England. We hope to have some of the other subspecies ready for next year. (V725 from Frank Doleshy 1 yr C; V716 from Fran Rutherford 3 yr C)
J R. kawakamii V110 [T E] Taiwan (Central Mountains). CW John Patrick. 1,800 – 2,200m, 5,900 – 7,100ft. A compact shrub of neat appearance with small rounded leaves, 3 1/2 feet tall in the wild, smaller for us. Blooms once a year with many small bright yellow flowers. The only Vireya from the island of Taiwan. It can withstand several degrees of frost, perhaps +25F. So far, no one has been able to use it in hybridizing. A good basket plant. 1 yr B
R. kochii V325 [T] Phillippines Grows on ridges in the mossy forest at 1000 to 2300 meters, 3,280 ft to 10,500 ft. In nature this species can reach 30 feet in height and can grow into a large leggy shrub, but responds well to pruning and growing in a pot. The scented white flowers are very attractive and freely produced in trusses of 10 to 20. narrowly funnel-shaped flowers. Very rare. Photo by Richard Currie 1 yr C Photo by Richard Currie
R. konori V98 [T E] Papua (widespread). 750-2,500m; 2,450-8,200 ft. Large dark scaly leaves, thick branches and tall habit. Huge white flowers with a heavy substance and fragrance. Slow to start blooming but then it blooms several times a year. Also a wonderful foliage plant. It has been described as shedding its plate-sized flowers from high up in large old trees. We have grown ours successfully in large tubs for many years. 1, 2 yr C
R. konori Var. phaeopeplum V441 [T] Papua, up to 1,300m or 4,200 ft. A smaller version of R. konori, and also more suited to pot culture. Blooms young and is very fragrant. This species is now considered a variety of R. konori with the same dark scaly leaves. 1, 2 yr C a few
J R. laetum [T] Papua (NW New Guinea). 1,800-2,300m; 6,200-7,500 ft. The plants are terrestial on the edge of the primary and secondary forest, in open marsh and in swamps at the edge of lakes. Tall growing plants to 3 meters in the wild, 5 to 6 feet for us. Very large flaring trumpets of deep golden yellow. Blooms three or more times a year for us and is fairly heat tolerant.. All of the laetums are fairly easy.
R. laetum V333 ‘Black & Wood’ form . Very strong vigorous habit. Frequent bloomer. This is a special form with large gold to pale orange flowers and is easy to grow and bloom. We have seen photos similar to this form in bloom from Papua. We do not think that Michael Black and Paddy Wood who collected Vireyas for the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scotland, were even in the area where this species grows. But a name is a name??? 1, 2, 3 yr B
R. lanceolatum V318 [E T] Northern Borneo 1000 m to 1600 m, or 3,280 ft to 6,880 ft. Our plant comes from a clone that our friend, Keith Adams, (RIP Keith, you were a great Vireya guy) reintroduced from Sarawak in Northern Borneo. We have found that it is happier with more shade in the summer months. A low spreading habit seems to come naturally. White flowers that are short and almost campanulate appear in trusses of 4 to 10. 1 year B
R. leptobrachion V667 [T] 2200 to 2335 m, 7,200 to 7,550 feet. Native to Sulawesi (Celebes Island) Grown from seed collected by John Farbarik and Keith Adams. This colorful shrub or small tree has slender branches and leaves. It grows to about 10 feet in the wild but is only 3 to 4 feet in size for us so far. New growth stems and twigs are pink or reddish in color. The glossy bright red flowers are tubular in shape, 4 to 10 flowers in a truss. 1, 4, 5 yr C Photo by hank helm
R. loranthiflorum ssp. loranthilorum V29 [E] Solomon Islands, Bougainville Island. Introduced in 1964 by our Australian friend, Lyn Craven. Epiphytic in high rain forest and in stunted forest on crater rims, 180 to 1500 M or 500 to 4,900 feet in altitude. This much-branched shrub grew to four feet in our greenhouse after 20 years and is now in the Rutherford Conservatory at the Rhododendron Species Foundation in Federal Way Washington. It is very floriferous and covered with masses of white fragrant flowers several time a year. 1 yr B
R. malayanum Var. malayanum f. malayanum V602 V668 [T E] Northern Borneo, Kalimantan (Southern Borneo), Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia. 200 to 1,500m, 650 to 4,900 ft. "This species was the first Vireya to be described, is the most widespread in the Subgenus and is subtly variable", as explained in the excellent book by Dr. George Argent, titled 'Rhododendrons of Subgenus Vireya'. Our plants were brought back from Sulawesi as seed and cuttings by John Farbarik and Hank Helm in 1997. They seem to be much smaller in height than those described in the book. Our plants are not over 18 inches tall, have very scaly twigs and leaves, delicate and exotic in appearance. The small tubular flared flowers are glossy and purplish-red and sparkle like jewels against the narrow brownish-green, almost linear leaves. 3 yr C
J R macgregoriae [T E] PNG & Papua 120 to 3,000m, 400 - 9,800 ft. A wide spread species. Although a tall shrub or tree in nature, our forms have been easy to maintain at 3 to 4 feet. However, we saw 12 to 15 foot plants of our V604 and V605 in Mark Jury's garden in New Zealand. Mark's father, Felix Jury, collected them in PNG during the late 1940s. There are many different color forms but the small flowers, 5 to 15 in a truss, are always distinctive in shape with wide-open corolla lobes and make an exceptional display. R. macgregoriae is probably very heat tolerant.
V355 "Golden Gate Best" bi-color 1 yr B
V604 orange form CW F. Jury 1 yr B
V605 yellow form CW F. Jury 1 yr B
V680 solid yellow 1 yr B
R. mendumiae V909 (T?) Native to the Philippines (Palawan) at 1,600m 5,200 ft. Collected in 1998 by George Argent and six other people near the summit of Cleopatra Needle, in dense, mossy forest, from a very small and vulnerable population. Named in memory of Mary Mendum (1945-2004) who was on the expedition which collected this species. A shrub growing to 1 meter or 3 feet in the wild. Leaves are 2 3/4 inches long. It has been described as looking similar to R. jasminiflorum var. copelandii, at least vegetatively. The 1 or 2 white flowers have a short broad corolla tube, with quite large lobes and a delightful fragrance. 1, 2 yr C Photo by Bill Moyles
R. perakense V613 [E] Native to the Malay Peninsula and the Cameron Highlands at 1830 meters or 5,900 feet in the mossy summit forest. A small, neat plant with shiny small leaves and very distinctive tiny yellow flowers. Although said to be difficult to grow it has been successful here in our climate. Special care should be taken in extreme heat like using misting. This species is very suitable for basket culture. Our clone was collected in the wild by Keith Adams of New Zealand. 1 yr B
R. phaeopeplum see R. konori
J R. x planecostatum V321 [E T] Northern Borneo. 1200-2200m; 3,900-6,200 ft. A natural hybrid of R. bagabonum x R. crassifolium from Mount Kinabalu in Northern Borneo. A fortunate encounter of two unlikely partners has produced a delightful hybrid , small in size, easy to grow and happy in a hanging basket or pot. Shiny, bright green leaves provide a background for the small waxy, orange flowers. A good performer. 1, 2, 3 yr B
R. pneumonthum see R. edanoi ssp pneumonthum
R. praetervisum V322 [E] Borneo, Sabah, Mt Kinabalu. 1,100-1,800m; 3,500-6,200 ft. Grows to 2 meters in the wild but remains at 3 to 4 feet for us after many years. Distinctive narrow shiny leaves and striking tubular flowers of a purplish-pink color that hang down. Striking foliage plant with a moderate, well-branched habit. Slow to begin blooming. 1, 4, 5 yr B
J R radians var.radians V722 [T] RSF # 97/063 This form was collected by John Farbarik and Keith Adams in Sulawesi (Celebes Islands) 1,700 - 2,000m, 5,500 to 6,500 ft. A small-growing twiggy bush for us. The flower truss is composed of 7 to 20 flowers radiating out in an open circle, the flowers being white, very slender, long tubes with flared, pale pink lobes. Easy to grow. 3 yr C
J R. rarilepidotum [T] Sumatra 1800-2500m; 5,900- 8,200 ft. A well-branched shrub growing to 4 meters in the wild but much smaller in cultivation. Eight to 12 bright rusty red-orange fragrant flowers in a nice truss. Dr. George Argent from the Edinburgh Botanic Garden in Scotland (RBGE) says it should be a very good performing species that could compare with many good hybrids. V594 from Brian Clancy in Australia 1 yr C; V595 from John Kenyon in NZ 1 yr C; V712 from RBGE 2, 3 yr C, not much difference between these forms.
R. retusum var. retusum V262 [T E] Indonesia, Sumatra, Java 1,350 to 3,400m, 4,200 to 11,000 ft. Depending on the habitat, this Vireya can be found as a shrub or small tree to 7 meters, or more rarely prostrate. This was one of the earliest Vireyas to be introduced, and was featured in the 'Curtis's Botanical Magazine' in 1855. R. retusum is known to us as small growing, small leafed, small flowered, never over 15 inches tall and a reliable bloomer. Its bright red, small tubular flowers appear frequently. 1, 3 yr B
R. robinsonii V394 [T E] Native to the Malay peninsula. 1035 to 1830 meters or 3,380 to 5,900 ft. While it can reach 2.5 meters in the wild it performs for us as a moderate bush to 3 feet with striking foliage and frequent yellow flowers, 5 to 12 in a truss. This species looks much like the R. javanicum group differing only in the completely glabrous filaments. 2 yr B a few
R. rubineiflorum x gracilentum V418 [T E] Sent to us from the Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust Garden in New Zealand as R. rubineiflorum but turned out to be a hybrid. It combines the little bun of rubineiflorum with the slightly larger growth habit if gracilentum. Exactly what you would expect from two plants growing side by side at Pukeiti. We call our little buns 'R. Ruby Grace'. 3 yr B red or pink
R. ruttenii V713 [T] Eastern Indonesia, Maluku, Seram 1,900 - 2,500m, 6,200 - 8,200 ft. Small shrub with narrowly elliptic leaves. Four to eight trumpet-shaped, tubular white flowers. Very similar to R. jasminiflorum but with larger flowers. Fragrant. Grows easily and flowers young. 2, 3 yr B
R. sororium RSF-HH V905 [T] Vietnam 1400 to 1700 meters or 4,600 to 5,600 feet The name is derived from the latin - soror "of the sisters" because of the similarity between the other similar small leafed, yellow flowered species, such as R. emarginatium and R. densifolium. This group of species is probably cold hardy to -4C or +25F and may recover after enduring that chill if the cold spell is not prolonged. A dense little bush, slowly growing to 2 or 3 feet with dainty charm when covered with flowers. 1, 3 yr B
J R. stevensianum V906 [E] Papua New Guinea 2,000-2,300m (6,550 to 7,550 ft.) Compact small shrub to less than 1 meter, 2 feet in the wild. Dainty purplish-pink flowers, solitary, hanging and produced over a long period. An easy-to-grow charming little plant. 2 yr B Photo by Chris Callard
R. suaveolens V273 [T E] Northern Borneo, Mt Kinabalu 1200 to 1700 meters or 3,900 to 5,550 feet. Our big old R. suaveolens was grown from material collected by Dave Goheen, raised in a big tub in our greenhouse, putting on a fabulous display with its pure white flowers, 14 to 20 per truss. The unusual rounded leaves with a cordate base contribute to the beauty of this species. Our big old plant is now at home in the new Rutherford Conservatory at the Rhododendron Species Foundation. 1, 2 yr C
J R. x sumatranum V572 [T E] R. sumatranum x retusum, R. sumatranum commonly hybridizes with R. retusum in the wild to produce a well-branched low bush, with medium small orange flowers and small neat foliage. This form was collected in the wild by David Benney of New Zealand. 3, 4 yr B
J R. superbum ssp superbum [E T] Papua New Guinea (widespread in Mts). 1,500-3,000m; 4,900-9,850 ft. A large sturdy shrub with large leathery leaves, to 6 meters (19+ feet) in its native habitat growing as a large epiphytic in the upper branches of large trees (that is something we would like to see), terrestrial in low shrubberies and on the edge of cloud forest. The very large flowers are widely trumpet-shaped, with a waxy corolla, white to cream flushed with pink and strongly fragrant. C. R. Stoner, an early collector theorized that high-epiphytic fragrant Vireyas are pollinated by the Lory parrots, these being among the few birds with a sense of smell. Very nice, a truly "superb" Rhododendron. V311 CW, Frank Mossman form 2, 3 yr C, V272 ‘Misty Pink’ CW in PNG probably by Dr. H. Sleumer and ours came from Frank Doleshy, named by John Kenyon in New Zealand. 1, 2 yr C;
R. taxifolium V675 [E in trees] Philippines 2.600-2,700m (8,500 to 8,850 ft.) A threatened species in the wild because of illegal incursions by farmers. It is an easy plant to grow and flower reaching 3 feet in the wild. The leaves are small and narrow (like Taxus, Yew trees). The flowers are tubular-sub-campanulate and are white without fragrance. Very unusual small plants. 1, 2, 4 yr C a few
R. tuba V314 [T] Papua New Guinea North side of the summit on Mt. Dayman. 2500 to 2750 meters or 8,200 to 9,000 ft. A large vigorous shrub, growing to 5 meters (15 ft) in nature in the margin of the moss forest. Beautiful fragrant, pink and white trumpet-shaped blooms cover the bush, usually once a year in the fall for us here in Oregon. Our big plant has remained at 4 to 5 feet tall for many years in a large container. 1 yr C
R. verticillatum V584 [E] Malaysia (Borneo) & Indonesia (Kalimantan) 700-1500m 2,300 to 4,900 ft. An easily grown rather lanky shrub with unusual long, narrow leaves in tight pseudowhorls. The reddish-orange flowers form a full truss of 5 to 15 flowers. Although reaching 2 meters in the wild ours is not over 3 feet tall in 10 years. 1, 2 yr C Photo by Richard Currie
R. viriosum V421 [T E] Queensland, Australia 910 to 1330 meters or 2,950 to 4,300 feet. (previously known and named R. lochiae) This clone was supplied to us by June Sinclair of Washington State who grew it from seed. It seems to be more vertical in growth than our other form, V2, which will not be available till next year. Described as one of the most famous Vireyas in cultivation having received Awards of Merit from the Australian Rhododendron Society and the Royal Horticultural Society in Great Britain. It flowers very freely and is easy to maintain as a small plant. As a parent of many hybrids it has passed on its red color of the flowers in a dominant manner. An attractive round bush with shiny rounded leaves and bright red flowers. 2 yr B a few
R. zoelleri V43 [T E] Indonesia and Papua new Guinea 0 to 2000 meters or 0 to 6,500 feet in altitude. Found as a shrub to 3 meters or a tree to 30 feet and has even been observed hanging over precipices! Its large flamboyant flowers usually have yellow tubes and lobes of red-orange framed by large dark green leaves. It is one of the most popular New Guinea rhododendrons in cultivation and the parent of many heat-tolerant hybrids. 1 yr B
