A newly introduced species forming large rounded shrubs as seen in the wild.The foliage can be quite large (10-12 inches long?) and is elliptic to oblong-lanceolate in shape.The new growth is densely covered with stipitate glands.The fragrant white flowers are funnel-campanulate with 6-7 lobes and are also densely covered with stipitate glands on the outer surface.As illustrated in the new Encyclopedia of Rhododendron Species by Peter and Kenneth Cox, the flowers are somewhat similar in appearance to the flowers of R. auriculatum.Thought to be very rare in the wild, this species is known from only three sites in NE Yunnan (and adjacent N Guizhou?) where it was observed between 7,000 and 9,000 ft. in cut-over scrub.This should prove to be an excellent and popular addition to the growing palette of newly available species.
1995sd255(glanduliferum aff.?)PW#44:RSBG(+5?\R1?\6).Grown from seed collected at 4,400 ft. in N Guizhou as “subsection Fortunea with large bold foliage” (up to 18 inches long!).This is quite similar in appearance to and is probably glanduliferum.NOTE:this was distributed by us in the 1997 catalog as “Subsection Fortunea”.
1996sd503SEH#174:RSBG(0 to +5\R1\6).Outstanding new introduction.Vigorous, large evergreen shrubs with bold leaves up to one foot in length.The new growth emerges a bright red-purple in mid-summer for a spectacular display.Probably fragrant white flowers in summer.My own collection from around 8,000 ft. in NE Yunnan, China.You will love this.
glanduliferum aff.
These are seedlings grown from seed collected at 4,460 ft. in the Dalou Shan region of northern Guizhou Province, China.This is almost surely R. glanduliferum, an exciting new introduction which has only recently been collected (1995) in NE Yunnan, China and first offered by us in last year’s catalog.This seed was collected (as “unknown subsection Fortunea”) from a large vigorous evergreen tree about 23 ft. in height growing in a light scrubby forest of Carpinus sp., Tilia sp., Weigelia florida, Decaisnea fargesii, Stachyurus sp. and Magnolia sprengeri var. diva. Should be a fantastic new introduction with large fragrant white flowers.
1995sd232PW#83:RSBG(+5?\R1\6?).Grown from seed collected at 4,460 ft. in the Dalou Shan region of northern Guizhou Province, China from a plant with 18 inch leaves.This is almost surely the newly introduced R. glanduliferum and should have fragrant white flowers.
1995sd240PW#39:RSBG(+5?\R1\6?).Large vigorous plants with stunning reddish new growth.NOTE:this was distributed by us in the 1997 catalog as “Subsection Fortunea.”
