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Pacific rhododendron, western rhododendron

Habit Shrubs or small trees evergreen, to 5 m; bark smooth to furrowed and shredding; occasionally rhizomatous.
Leaves

elliptic to obovate; (6)8.5–15(20) × 2.5–7.0 cm, abaxially light green to rusty colored, adaxially green; thick; leathery;

margins entire;

tips acute to obtuse;

surfaces abaxially velvety, occasionally with a few scattered hairs, adaxially glabrous, occasionally with a few scattered hairs.

Inflorescences

terminal, 10–20-flowered;

bracts present.

Pedicels

30–60 mm, glabrous.

Flowers

opening after leaves; erect to horizontal; fragrant;

sepals 1–1.5 mm, glabrous;

margins pubescent;

corollas broad, campanulate, 25–50 mm, white to pink or purple, yellow-green spots on upper lobe;

outer surfaces glabrous;

petals connate;

lobes 15–30 mm;

stamens 10, included, unequal, 15–35 mm.

Fruits

10–25 mm.

Seeds

without tails.

2n

=26.

Rhododendron macrophyllum

Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Low to mid-elevation forests. Flowering Apr–Aug. 0–1900 m. Casc, CR, Est, Sisk, WV. CA, WA; north to British Columbia. Native.

Plants of this species are cultivated worldwide for their large showy flowers.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 637
Stephen Meyers
Sibling taxa
R. albiflorum, R. columbianum, R. occidentale
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