Rhododendron simsii

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows about 2 m tall. The summer and winter leaves are different. The leaves are oval and 2-5 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. The base is wedge shaped and the edges are rolled. There are fine teeth along the edge. The flowers are in groups of 2-3. They are funnel shaped and red, pink or with dark red flecks.

Where it is found

It is a temperate to tropical plant. in China it grows in pine forests between 500-2,700 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Mynamar, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The flowers are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Flowers, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Doquyen sims, Ke-kha-pan, Laung-pan, Rhododendron merah tua

Synonyms

Azalea indica var. simsii (Planch.) L. H. Bailey; Azalea prolifera Poit.; Azalea simsii (Planch.) H. F. Copel.; Rhododendron bellum W. P. Fang & G.Z. Li; Rhododendron bicolor P. C. Tam; Rhododendron calleryi Planch.; and others