"Every plant has a story . . . ."

R. macabeanum

Photo by Hank Helm

Many have called this plant the “best of the big leaves.”  Its dark green, shiny, leathery leaves, some nearly a foot in length, always attract attention.  A yellow mid-rib adds to their appearance.  It comes from N.E. India (Manipur and Nagaland) and is a favorite in Scottish as well as Washington State gardens.  It can grow into a tall tree, but is more likely to remain manageable in your garden. 

Its large, yellow flowers and yellow and white indumentum on the undersides of the leaves are quite spectacular.

It is one of the more compact and easy-to-grow big leaf plants, but would like some protection against extreme cold.  If you live in a colder region of our area, keep it in a large pot.  You can move it to a garage on the coldest winter days.

This rhododendron will like:  Partial Shade - Small amounts of fertilizer on Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day - Gentle Watering - Well aerated soil - Protection from freezing

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Last modified: 02/21/08  Copyright by Chimacum Woods, September 2005  All rights reserved.  

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