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Rhododendron argyrophyllum

Rhododendron argyrophyllum
Photo: Ulf Eliasson, CC BY-SA 3.0

Rhododendron argyrophyllum is an evergreen shrub or small tree from forested slopes in southwest China, grown for its silvery-backed leaves and pale pink spring flowers. Key to success is dappled shade and acid, leaf-mould-rich soil.

Family
Ericaceae (Heather family)
Grows as
Tree, Shrub
Light
Part shade
Water
Keep the soil evenly moist and never waterlogged, using rainwater if possible.
Soil
Acidic, well-drained soil enriched with leaf mould.
Temperature
Hardy to -15 °C (5 °F); shelter from cold winds and hot sun.
How easy
Moderate
Safety
Toxic: All parts of rhododendrons contain grayanotoxins, which can cause vomiting, drooling, low blood pressure and heart rhythm problems if eaten.. Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).
Native range
SC. China (to Shaanxi)
Climate
temperate

About

Rhododendron argyrophyllum (银叶杜鹃) is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae. It is native to forested slopes at 1,600–2,300 m (5,200–7,500 ft) in E and NW Guizhou, S and W Sichuan, and NE Yunnan in China.

How to grow it

R. argyrophyllum is hardy down to −15 °C (5 °F) but like most rhododendron species requires a sheltered position in dappled shade with acid soil that has been enriched with leaf mould.

The cultivar R. argyrophyllum subsp. nankingense 'Chinese Silver' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Other Rhododendron plants

Rhododendron album · Rhododendron anthopogon · Rhododendron augustinii · Rhododendron bureavii · Rhododendron calophytum · Rhododendron calostrotum · Bell Flowered Rhododendron · Bent-style rhododendron · Rhodora · Catawba rosebay · Georgian Snow Rose · Dahurian Rhododendron

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Rhododendron argyrophyllum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.

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