Rhododendron falconeri
Falconer rhododendron
A large evergreen shrub or small tree, to 12m tall, with flaking red-brown bark. Handsome, wrinkled dark green leaves to 30cm in length, are rusty-felted beneath. Bell-shaped waxy flowers, 5cm in width, AB44 creamy-white with a maroon blotch, in large dome-shaped trusses in mid and late spring
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Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
2.5–4 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
AcidColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Purple Red | Brown Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Brown Green | |||
| Autumn | Brown Green | |||
| Winter | Brown Green |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Potentially harmful
- Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs, cats, rabbits, tortoises) Harmful if eaten - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
- Genus
Rhododendron can be evergreen or deciduous shrubs or trees, with simple leaves, sometimes with a dense colourful indumentum of hairs on the lower side, and funnel-shaped, bell-shaped or tubular flowers that may be solitary or in short racemes
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- E Himalaya, Myanmar, Nepal
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moist but well-drained, leafy, humus-rich acid soil in part shade with shelter; see rhododendron cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by seed when ripe, or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer, layering in autumn or grafting in late summer or late winter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Architectural
- Cottage and informal garden
- Low Maintenance
- Hedging and screens
Pruning
Pests
May be susceptible to vine weevil, rhododendron leafhopper, pieris lacebug, scale insects, caterpillars and aphids
Diseases
May be susceptible to various Rhododendron diseases including powdery mildews, rhododendron petal blight, rhododendron bud blast, silver leaf and honey fungus
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