Pachytrichum Rhododendron                rho-do-DEN-dron pak-i-TRI-kum

• Broadleaf evergreen shrub to 6-18 ft (~1.5-5 m) tall, young shoots covered with brownish hairs which spread to the leaf petiole.  Leaves are clustered at the ends of each year’s growth, narrowly oblong to oblong-lanceolate or obovate, 6-13 cm long and 2-4 cm wide, tip acuminate to obtuse, base rounded or wedge-shaped (cuneate), margin reflexed, upper surface bright green, minutely wrinkled (rugulose) at maturity, without hairs, midrib deeply grooved, lower surface pale green, shining, prominent midrib; petiole 1.5 cm long.   Flowers in clusters (raceme umbels) of 7-10, each flower bell-shaped (campanulate), about 5 cm long, white to pale rose, with a deep purple basal blotch, 10 stamens of unequal length, pistil about 3 cm long, stigma small.
• -5° F, early, 2/2/2-3 [quality rating of flower / foliage & plant / performance, based on a 1(poorest) to 5 (best) scale].  Best in light shade.
• Native to China, found in Chongquing, S Shaanxi, SW Sichuan, and NE Yunnan; forests 1700-3500 m.
• There are two forms:
  • Rhododendron pachytrichum var. pachytrichum:  Leaf blade leathery, narrowly oblong or oblanceolate to obovate, 7–14 × 2–4.5 cm; base cuneate or rounded.  Style 2–2.5 cm long.  Flowers in May–Jun, fruits, Aug–Sep.
  • Rhododendron pachytrichum var. tenuistylosum:  Leaf blade subleathery, oblong-elliptic, 5–8.5 × 1.8–2.7 cm; base cuneate.  Style to 4.5 cm long.   Capsule furrowed, densely tomentose.
• pachytrichum: pachy, thick; trichum; trichome (hair); with thick hairs
• Federal Way, Washington: Rhododendron Species and Botanical Garden.