Rhododendron campanulatum
| Rhododendron campanulatum | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-6.5 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 15' |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Rhododendron campanulatum
Propagation: Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn and given artificial light. Alternatively sow the seed in a lightly shaded part of the warm greenhouse in late winter or in a cold greenhouse in April. Surface-sow the seed and do not allow the compost to become dry[1]. Pot up the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a greenhouse for at least the first winter.
Layering in late July. Takes 15 - 24 months[2].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, August in a frame. Difficult[2].
Cultivation: Succeeds in most humus rich lime free soils except those of a dry arid nature or heavy or clayey[3]. Prefers a peaty or well-drained sandy loam[3]. Succeeds in sun or shade, the warmer the climate the more shade a plant requires[1]. Requires a pH between 4.5 and 5.5[1].
Succeeds in a woodland though, because of its surface-rooting habit[1], it does not compete well with surface-rooting trees[3]. Plants need to be kept well weeded, they dislike other plants growing over or into their root system, in particular they grow badly with ground cover plants, herbaceous plants and heathers[1].
There are many named varieties selected for their ornamental value[1].
Plants form a root ball and are very tolerant of being transplanted, even when quite large, so long as the root ball is kept intact[1].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[1].
Range: E. Asia - Himalayas from Kashmir to Bhutan.
Habitat: Found on open slopes in the alpine zone at elevations between 2,800 and 4,400 metres[4]. Rhododendron thickets on mountain slopes[5].
Medicinal: The leaves are mixed with tobacco and used as a snuff in the treatment of colds and headaches that affect only one side of the head[6]. The juice of the leaves is also used in the treatment of chronic rheumatism, sciatica and syphilis[6][4].
The dried twigs and wood are used in the treatment of phthisis and chronic fevers[6].
Usage: An excellent fuel wood is obtained from this plant[4].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Late Summer
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The leaves are considered to be poisonous[7]. The flowers of many species can cause intoxication in large quantities[8].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Coventry, B. Wild Flowers of Kashmir. Raithby, Lawrence and Co, 1923.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.