This Asian flowering shrub’s beautiful blooms and enormous diversity in size and shape make it a popular choice in most gardens. The genus Rhododendron is shared with Azaleas and has over 1450 species and hybrid.
Needing ample rainfall and requiring a slightly acidic soil this shrub can bloom in various shades of white, red, pink, yellow, blue, purple, magenta, orange and can have mixtures within these colours.
Rhododendron have their own annual festival, and the genus is the national flower of Nepal.
It’s interesting to note, in light of its popularity, that according to the Language of Flowers this particular flower holds the message of ‘danger’ or can mean ‘beware I am dangerous’.