Oldham's azalea
Rhododendron oldhamii

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

A hairy shrub. It grows 1-3 m high. The hairs are red-brown. The leaves are narrowly sword shaped. They are 3-8 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. They taper to a sharp point. The base is wedge shaped. The flowers are dark red. There are 1-3 on stalks covered with hairs. The flowers are funnel shaped. They are 4 cm long. The fruit is an oval capsule. It is 8 mm long and hairy.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in mountain thickets in Taiwan at about 2,800 m above sea level. It grows on sandstone cliffs up to 2,450 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Indonesia, SE Asia, Taiwan

How it is used for food

The flower petals are gathered and used.

Edible parts

Flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Oldham rhododendron, Taiwan rhododendron

Synonyms

Azalea oldhamii (Maxim.) Mast.; Rhododendron oldhamii var. glandulosum Hayata; Rhododendron ovatosepalum Yamam.;