WHY SPECIES VIREYAS SHOULD BE IN YOUR LIFE.
SPECIES VIREYA RHODODENDRONS
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.
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.
NEW = new to this catalog 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.
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)
R. alborugosum V 717 [T] Native to Kalimantan (Southern Borneo) at 1,800m (almost 6,000ft). As the species name suggest, 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 with a wide flaring corolla, 6 to 10 per truss. Fragrant and very special, Looks like it is going to be a young bloomer. 1 yr C
NEW & Note. Needs to be at least 3 years old before shipping. You can reserve it though. R. anagalliflorum V714 [E] Papua New Guinea 1,190 - 3,500 m, 3,900 - 11,500 ft. Dwarf prostrate or creeping shrub with very slender twigs and small leaves. It has single small white flowers and will bloom almost continuously when established. Has been used to make some nice small hybrids. 1 yr B
R. armitii V438 [T] SE PNG, Mt. Dayman and Owen Stanley Mountains at 2,400 - 2,700 m 7,800 - 8,800 ft. Moderate to tall growth habit with whitish bark and attractive foliage. Three to five flowers in the truss and the white flowers, touched with pink are salver-shaped (long and narrow), half-hanging with a curved tube. Similar to R. tuba but with larger leaves. Fragrant. 1 yr C
J R. aurigeranum [T] PNG 900 – 1,800m, 2,950 - 6,000ft. Tall grower with handsome dark green pointed foliage. Large lemon yellow trumpets, ten to a well shaped truss. V16 USNA 354-294 1 - 4 yr B, V138 From John Rouse. 1, 2, 3, 4 B,
R. carringtoniae V310 [T] PNG 1,830 – 2,950m, 5,900 – 9,600ft. 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 3 to 9 . 1 yr, 2 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. CW by John Farbarik and Keith Adams. Smallish well-branched plant with pink hanging flowers. Free flowering at a young age. 1, 2 yr B
NEW R. christianae V424 [T] New Guinea 600 - 1,525 m 1,900 - 5,000 ft Moderate willowy growth for us. Good heat tolerance. 2 to 5 yellow-orange flowers, medium-small 2 yr B
J R. christi V48 [T E] PNG & Papua 1,200 – 3,00m, 3,900 – 9,800ft. Widespread in its native habitat. A delicate twining plant preferring shade. Wonderful red and yellow flowers in trusses of 2 -4 . Easy to grow and flowers at a young age. 1 yr B
NEW R. commonae V242 [T] PNG 1,800 - 4,000m, 5,900 - 13,000 ft. Upright small shrub with 4 to 6 small bright red flowers and shiny round green leaves. There are also pink and very light yellow forms but we have never seen a pink one. The flowers are semi-erect with a curved tube. R. pseudonitens has been merged into this species. A Few 1, 2, 3 yr B
R. crassifolium [T] Borneo widespread. 1,200 - 2,500m, 3,900 to 8,000 ft Grows slowly to a moderate sized, well branched shrub with very unusual thick shiny leaves. The main vein in the leaves is large and conspicuous. Salmon-red flowers, 10 to 14 per rounded loose truss. New leaves of V164 require shade until hardened off. Both forms do best in partial shade. V440 an RSF form 2 yr C V164 CW Mossman/Goheen 2 yr C
R. cuneifolium (was R. quadrasianum var. cuneifolium) V671 [E T] Sulawesi (Celebes) 1,650 to 2,865m; to 9,200 ft. Collected by Hank Helm and John Farbarik. R. quadrasianum in some form or other grows on many of the islands in the South Pacific. Dr. Sleumer listed 11 different forms in his book, ‘An Account of Rhododendron in Malesia’. But Dr. George Argent in his latest book, 'Rhododendrons or subgenus vireya' says that R. quadrasianum and its forms are only native to the Philippines. This plant has tiny hanging red flowers, blooms almost continuously and can be used as a basket plant or in a group of “miniatures”. 1, 2 yr B
R. dianthosmum [E] Papua 500-1,400m; 1,640-4,600 ft. Upright shrub with very scaly young stems and leaves. Four to six flowers per truss held out horizontally. The flowers are tubular-funnel-shaped, white and pink with a strong carnation smell. V170 Strybing 1 yr C, V444 1 yr C, V589 CW by Keith Adams (New Zealander). 1 yr C
NEW R. dielsianum V104 [T E] PNG 1,200 to 2,000m, 3,900 - 6,550 Ft. Erect small shrub with small narrow leaves covered with brown scales that soon disappear. 2 to 4 pink flowers per truss, horizontal to hanging. An easy and free flowering plant in cultivation. 1 yr B
J R emarginatum V433 Asia mainland (Viet Nam) and SE China. Grown from CW seed. Small spreading plants with round leaves and small yellow flowers. Seedlings came to us as R. emarginatum section and we had named them both euonymifolium & poilanei in the past. Easy to grow and a good basket plant. Said to be cold hardy to -4C, +25F 1, 3 yr A
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 up to 10 per truss. 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, 2 yr B and older ones
R. gracilentum Needs to be at least 2 years old before shipping. You can reserve it though. [E T] PNG 2,000 to 2,745m; 6,500-8,800 ft. Easy to grow, very small, many branched, spreading plant with small rose-pink or red hanging flowers. One of the parents of the very nice hybrid R. Saint Valentine. Excellent basket plant. V176 dark red form B, V326 rose pink form B
R. hellwigii V271 [E] PNG CW, Jaro River by Frank Mossman. 1,100-2,500m; 3,500-8,200 ft. Upright shrub. Thick leaves up to 12cm (4 1/2 in) and almost round. Covered with dark scales when young. The flowers are velvety dark red. The petals are so thick that red sap can be squeezed from them. Slow to bloom but well worth the wait. Excellent foliage plant. 1, 2 yr D a few
R. herzogii V 434 [T E] Papau. 1,600-2,500, 5,200-8,200 ft. Moderate grower with attractive dark gray-green leaves and long tubular- flared flowers, white and fragrant, 5-10 flowers per upright truss. This species always has aromatic foliage. 2 yr C
NEW R. hyacinthosmum V449 [T] Papua New Guinea 1,800 - 2,000m, 5,900 to 6,500 ft. A 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 large light pink flowers that have the wonderful fragrance of hyacinths. 1, 2 yr C
R. jasminiflorum V390 [E T] Malay Peninsula. 1,160 to 1,525m; 3,500-4,950 ft. Small upright plant with fragrant tubular white flowers. A wide-spread species native to many areas including the Philippines. This species has been in cultivation since Victorian times and is still one of the best Vireyas to grow. 2 yr B
J R. jasminiflorum var. punctatum V580 [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. 1, 2, yr B
NEW R. javanicum Ssp. javanicum V685 [T] 800 to 2,500m, 2,600 - 8,000 ft. Can get to be a big shrub some day. All javanicums have very distinctive shaped and colored leaves (large, pointed and shiny). This subspecies can have orange to yellow flowers but V685 is orange. Javanicums are good bloomers and easy to grow in hot humid areas. 1, 2 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. Blooms once a year with many small yellow flowers. The only Vireya from the island of Taiwan. It can withstand several degrees of frost. So far, no one has been able to use it in hybridizing. A good basket plant. 1, 2, 3 yr B
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. 1, 2 yr D
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. 1 yr C a few
NEW R. konori Var. phaeopeplum V259 [T] Papua, up to 1,300m or 4,200 ft. Smaller growing form from Keith Adams in New Zealand. Distinguished by long, narrow leaves, very scaly - very large white fragrant flowers. Blooms reasonably young. 2 yr D
J R. laetum [T] Papua (NW New Guinea). 1,800-2,300m; 6,200-7,500 ft. Tall growing plant. Very large flaring trumpets of deep golden yellow. Blooms three or more times a year for us. All of the laetums are fairly easy.
NEW V3 Slightly ruffled yellow flowers 2 yr B
V45 This is the clone from Strybing Arboretum in San Francisco. Tall vertical growth and large golden yellow trusses, frequent flowering. 1, 2, 3 yr B
J V234 This selection is from John Rouse in Australia. Moderate habit and more bushy with golden yellow flowers in a well-shaped truss. Bright red pedicels 2, 3 A
J R. laetum V233 ‘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 A;
R. lanceolatum V318 [E T] Northern Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan) 1,000-1,500m; 3,250-4,900 ft. A small growing plant that grows in shaded areas within the forest. Distinctive looking leaves with a reddish color to the upper leaf midrib. White open-faced flowers. Our plant was collected by our NZ friend Keith Adams. 1, 2 yr C
J R. leptanthum V263 [T E] PNG 1,370 - 2,250m, 4,500 - 7,300 ft. Smallish shrub with almost round leaves, covered w9ith brown scales. Nice rose pink flowers. Can make a hanging pot plant. 2 yr A a few
J R. loranthiflorum V29 [E] 1,000m, 3,300 ft. New Britain & Solomon Is. Moderate size. Tubular-flared, all white flowers, in trusses of 4-5. Well-branched shrub with neat bright green leaves. Fragrant. 1, 2 yr B
J NEW R macgregoriae [T E] PNG & Papua 120 to 3,000m, 400 - 9,800 ft. A wide spread species in nature. Many different color forms but the small flowers are always distinctive in shape with wide open corolla lobes. V355 'Golden Gate Best' 2 yr B, V446 RSF# 1 yr B, V604 orange form CW by F. Jury (NZ) 2 yr B, V605 yellow form CW by Graham Smith (Pukeiti) 2 yr B, V680 solid yellow form 1 yr B
R. monodii (New name; was our R. quadrasianum var. cuneifolium) V671 [E T] Sulawesi (Celebes Island) 1,650 to 2,865m (9,200 ft). Collected by Hank Helm and John Farbarik. Species much like this grow on many of the islands in the South Pacific. Dr. Sleumer listed 11 differant forms in his book, 'An Account of Rhododendron in Malesia'. But Dr. George Argent in his latest species book, 'Rhododendrons of Subgenus Vireya' says that R. quadrasianum and it's forms are only native to the Philippines. This plant has tiny hanging red flowers, blooms almost continuously and can be used as a basket plant or in a group of "miniatures". Not available yet
R. x nervulosum V246 [T E] Northern Borneo 2,500 to 3,000m; 8,200-9,800 ft. Probably another natural hybrid from the Mt. Kinabalu area. Narrow almost linear leaves on an upright spreading plant. Our flowers are dark pink. Easy to grow and to flower. 1,2 yr B
NEW R. orbiculatum V313 [T E] The island of Borneo 800 to 1,800m or 2,600 to 6,000 ft. Shrub to small tree in the wild but ours make good hanging baskets. Almost round leaves with shell pink flowers. When this plant is in bloom it is always very special. 2 yr C
J R. pauciflorum V261 [E] Malay Peninsula. 1,400 – 1,800m, 4,600 – 6,200ft Round small bright green leaves on a charming compact plant suitable for hanging baskets. Small waxy red flowers, single or in pairs. 1 yr A
J R. phaeochitum [T E] PNG. 2,100-2,600m; 6,900-8,500 ft. Moderate bushy growth habit and very distinctive foliage with red-brown scales on both sides of the leaves and branchlets. Tubular-flared, hanging, soft pink flowers. A very desirable foliage plant and great in flower. V306 1 yr B V588 Big flowers from Bill Moyles 1, 2 yr B
J R. x planecostatum V321 [E T] Northern Borneo. 1,300-1,700m; 4,250-5,550 ft. A very nice small natural hybrid with thick shiny foliage and small waxy orange flowers. Quite different from other species and hybrids. Compact bushy habit. 1, 2, 3 yr A
R. pneumonanthum V568 [E] Northern Borneo 1,700-2,400m; 5,500-8,000 ft. Small shrub with thick and leathery leaves that are twice as long as broad. White flowers in trusses of 12 to 20, tubular, with broad recurved and ruffled lobes, without fragrance. 2 yr C
R. polyanthemum V320 [E T] Borneo (Sabah and N. Sarawak). 1,300 to 2,300m, 3,900 – 6,900ft. A large shrub with very attractive brown-scaly foliage. Large trusses of 25 -30 semi-erect flowers, brilliant pinkish-orange with a yellow eye. Very strongly scented. CW by Frank Mossman and David Goheen 1 yr C
R. praetervisum V322 [E] Northern Borneo (Sabah, Kinabalu). 1,100-1,800m; 3,500-6,200 ft. 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. 1,2 yr B
NEW R radians Var. radians V722 [T] Indonesia, Sulawesi 1,700 - 2,000m, 5,500 to 6,500 ft. Elliptic shaped leaves and 7 to 10 long narrow tubed, white flowers spreading out from the center. Slow growing to 2 feet for us. 1, 2 yr C
J R. rarilepidotum V712 [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 red fragrant flowers in a nice truss. Dr. George Argent from the Edinburgh Botanic Garden in Scotland says it should be a very good performing species that could compare with many good hybrids. 1, 2, 3 yr C
NEW R. retivenium V603 [T] Northern Borneo, Mt. Kinabalu 2,00 to 2,700m, 6,500 to 8,850 ft. A lanky shrub with large clear yellow fragrant flowers in trusses of 4 -7. It has narrowly elliptic, large leaves. One of the very few fragrant yellow vireyas. Our clone comes from Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust Garden and was collected in the wild by Oz Blumhardt of New Zealand. 2 yr D Limited
NEW R. retusum V261 [T] Indonesia, Sumatra, Java 1,350 to 3,400m, 4,200 to 11,000 ft. Small shrub, upright with dark green leaves. Dark red hanging flowers. Probably collected in about 1850. 1 yr A
R. rhodoleucum V388 [T] PNG 2,200 – 2,800m, 7,200 – 9,200ft. An erect shrub, moderate to tall with rounded leaves similar to R. tuba. Fragrant, half-hanging tubular flowers, 4-6 per truss. Darker rose at the base, fading to white in the lobes. 1 yr C a few
NEW R. rhodopus V672 [T] Sulawesa 2,800 to 3,000m, 9,100 to 9,800 ft. A slow growing shrub for us with attractive large leaves. Begins flowering fairly young and several times a year. 8 to 9 flowers in a truss with wavy lobes. White with pink pedicels and it's fragrant. Collected in the wild by Keith Adams in 1997. 1, 2 yr C A few
NEW R. rubineiflorum x gracilentum Needs to be at least 2 years old before shipping. You can reserve it though. A quite nice very small hybrid from New Zealand that looks very much like R. rubineiflorum but with a slightly longer corolla tube. 1 yr B
R. x coriifolium V150 [T] Synonym for R. rugosum var. coriifolium (R. buxifolium x R. rugosum) A natural hybrid from Mt. Kinabalu in northern Borneo that is similar to rugosum but is easier to flower. Bright pinkish-purple flowers. Grows slowly for us. A handsome foliage plant. 2 yr C only a few
NEW R. rugosum V151 [T] North Borneo, Mt. Kinabalu 2,000 - 3,500m, 6,500 to 11,500 ft. Moderate grower in cultivation. Very tough, wrinkled and leathery leaves. Twigs and parts of the leaves covered with brown scales. Purplish-pink tubular widely flared flower. Blooms well once a year when it gets older. 1, 2 yr C
J R. rushforthii V407 NorthernViet Nam, CW by Allan Clark (UK). Seed grown on by Bill Moyles in Oakland, CA. Smallish growing bushy plant to 2 ½ feet in 5 years with very distinctive blue-green leaves. Small yellow flowers much like R. kawakamii. 1, 2, 3, B
NEW R. ruttenii V713 [T] Eastern Indonesia, Maluku, Seram 1,900 - 2,500m, 6,200 - 8,200 ft. Small shrub with narrowly elliptic leaves. Trumpet-shaped, tubular white flowers. Very similar to R. jasminiflorum but with larger leaves. Fragrant. Grows easy and flowers young. 2 yr C
J R. santapaui V309 [E] India NEFA, Subansiri District. 1,500 to 2,300m; 4,900-7,000 ft. Small bushy shrub, flowers small and waxy white with black or brown stamens in groups of 1 to 4. Would be a good basket plant. May need part shade. Bronze new foliage. A plant with quiet charm and it blooms young. 2 yr B
R. solitarium [T] New Guinea. 1,700-2,000m; 5,550-6,550 ft. Moderate size with attractive oval-shaped bullate foliage. Very pale pink to white tubular flowers, fragrant. One of the best foliage plants, but slow to begin blooming. V606 2 yr C From the Pukeiti collection in New Zealand. The foliage is slightly different from V112. V112 1, 2 yr C
J R. suaveolens V273 [T E] Northern Borneo, 1,200-1,700m; 3,900-5,550 ft. CW by Dave Goheen. Moderate size. Well-branched shrub with firm, rounded leaves which have a dark red midrib. Many-flowered truss, 14-20, long, tubular, white flowers. A real performer and blooms frequently. 1, 2 yr C
R. x sumatranum V572 A natural hybrid with R. retusem re Geo Argent [T E] Northern Sumatra 1,800 – 2,700 m, 5,900 – 8,850ft. Well branched small to moderate shrub for us with attractive leaves. Flowers are broadly funnel shaped, scarlet to purple or orange-red, 2 – 3 per truss. CW by David Binney 1, 3,4 yr B
J R. superbum [E T] Papua New Guinea (widespread in Mts). 1,500-3,000m; 4,900-9,850 ft. Moderate growth for us. Stiff branching with large leathery leaves. Large, fragrant, widely funnel-shaped, waxy flowers in white to cream with shades of pink. Very nice, a truly superb Rhododendron. V311 CW Frank Mossman form 2, 3 yr C, V272 ‘Misty Pink’ CW in PNG by Frank Doleshy, named by John Kenyon. 2, 3 yr C
NEW R. syringoideum V917 [T E] Papua (West New Guinea), 2,200 - 3,000m, 7,200 - 9,800 ft. Shrub to 2 meters in the wild, much smaller in cultivation, with leaves broadly elliptic and covered with reddish brown scales. The flowers are large and long tubular shaped. Flowers are also very fragrant. 1 yr C fall of 2007 Sorry no photo yet.
NEW R. tuba V314 [T] PNG 2,500 to 2,750m, 8,200 - 9,000 ft. Upright growing shrub with broadly elliptic leaves. The leaf petiole (leaf stalk) is quite short. There are 4 to 7 flowers in a truss and each flower is at least 3 inches long. The flowers are trumpet-shaped and come out a nice very pale pink. It's also fragrant, blooms for us in September/October but also at other times of the year. R. tuba must be one of our best liked species, it always draws admirers. 2 yr C
NEW R vanvuurenii [T] Indonesia, Sulawesi 600 - 1,600m, 1,950 to 5,200 ft. in light dry forest. Small shrub or tree in the wild. Quite large and showy flowers. V665 CW, David Binney, NZ, coral orange (we are not quite sure what species this is???) 1 yr C, V918 CW seed from Lyn Craven in Australia cream color. 1 yr C
NEW R. yongii V585 [T E?] North Borneo Shrub tall in the wild, much slower for us with elliptic leaves. The leaves are large and convex and very distinctive looking. Flowers are in trusses of 5 to 10, dark purplish-red with curved tubes. Our plant was collected in the wild by our friend, Keith Adams of New Zealand. 1, 2 yr C Only a few
R. zoelleri [T] New Guinea & Moluccas island. 0-2,000m; 0-6,550 ft. Tall and rangy with large leaves and outstanding bi-colored flowers of yellow, red-orange. One of the outstanding large flowered species. Various USNA #s 1,2,3 yr B
