Rhododendron is a very large genus of about 1,024 species of woody plants in the heath family (Ericaceae). They can be either evergreen or deciduous. Most species are native to eastern Asia and the Himalayan region, but smaller numbers occur elsewhere in Asia, and in North America, Europe and Australia.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity.
The Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH) is awarded to British horticulturists resident in the United Kingdom whom the Royal Horticultural Society Council considers deserving of special honour by the Society.
Rhododendron luteum, the yellow azalea or honeysuckle azalea, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae, native to southeastern Europe and southwest Asia. In Europe, it occurs from southern Poland and Austria, south through the Balkans, and east to southern Russia; and in Asia, east to the Caucasus.
Rhododendron arboreum, the tree rhododendron, is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a showy display of bright red flowers. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Thailand. It is the national flower of Nepal. In India it is the state tree of Uttarakhand and state flower of Nagaland.
Cyclamen coum, the eastern sowbread, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae. It is a tuberous herbaceous perennial, growing to 5–8 cm (2–3 in), with rounded heart-shaped leaves and pink shell-shaped flowers with darker coloration at the base. It is valued in horticulture as groundcover, and for the flowers which bloom in winter and early spring.
Rhododendron degronianum is a species of rhododendron native to northern parts of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, where it grows at altitudes of about 1,800 meters (5,900 ft).
Rhododendron dauricum is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae native to forests and forest margins in Eastern Siberia, Mongolia, North China and Hokkaido, Japan. The Latin specific epithet dauricum means "from Siberia" – Transbaikal is also known as Dauria.
Rhododendron macabeanum, the McCabe rhododendron, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family, Ericaceae. It is native to Assam and Manipur in northeastern India. It is a large evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 12 m (39 ft) in height, with leathery leaves up to 30 cm (12 in) in length. The felted undersides are a grey or buff colour. The flowers, borne in trusses in spring, are bell-shaped, pale to deep yellow, with a purple basal blotch.
Rhododendron augustinii, called the blue rhododendron or Augustine's rhododendron, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Rhododendron native to central China and Tibet. Its Electra Group has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Rhododendron calostrotum is a species of flowering plant in the genus Rhododendron native to Tibet, south-central China, and Myanmar. Its putative subspecies Rhododendron calostrotum subsp. keleticum, called the beautiful-covering rhododendron, and its cultivar 'Gigha' have both gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Rhododendron edgeworthii, the Edgeworth rhododendron, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Rhododendron native to the eastern Himalaya, south-central China, Tibet, and Myanmar. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Rhododendron hanceanum is a species of flowering plant in the genus Rhododendron native to south-central China. Its Nanum Group has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Rhododendron oreodoxa is a species of flowering plant in the genus Rhododendron native to central China. Its variety Rhododendron oreodoxa var. fargesii, called the Père Farges rhododendron, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Rhododendron primuliflorum is a species of flowering plant in the genus Rhododendron native to central China. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Rhododendron roxieanum is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, native to central China and Tibet. Its variety Rhododendron roxieanum var. oreonastes, called the mountain rolled-leaf rhododendron, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Rhododendron russatum, the purplish-blue rhododendron, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Rhododendron native to south-central China and Myanmar. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Rhododendron wiltonii, called the Wilton rhododendron and the wrinkled-skin rhododendron, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Rhododendron native to south‑central China. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Rhododendron kiusianum, the Kyushu azalea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, native to Kyushu, Japan. It is a parent of a large number of hybrid dwarf azaleas. It is the official flower of Unzen, Nagasaki, and of Kagoshima Prefecture.
James Robert Gowen (1784–1862) was an amateur English botanist and horticulturist, who was secretary of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) from 1845 to 1850, treasurer until 1855, a landowner in the Wairau Valley in 1848, was still paying rates in Nelson in 1862 and was a director of the New Zealand Company from 1840 to 1854. He was a lay member of the Lunacy Commission from 1842 to 1844 and patron of the Nelson Agricultural and Horticultural Society in 1845.
