Gardeners prize the woody plants called rhododendrons for their beautiful clusters of blossoms and glossy leaves. The name rhododendron comes from the Greek words for rose (rhodon) and tree (dendron). There are more than 800 species, or kinds, of rhododendrons, including the azaleas. Most rhododendron shrubs are evergreens that keep their leaves for several years. Rhododendrons can be found on all continents except Africa and South America. They are most plentiful in the Himalayas, southeastern Asia, and the mountains of Malaysia. They grow in places where the weather is mild and humid. Rhododendrons vary in size from treelike plants that reach more than 40 feet (12 meters) tall to low-growing shrubs that are only 4 inches (10 centimeters) tall. The shrub forms that are common in the United States generally reach a height of about 15 feet (4.6 meters). Rhododendrons have leathery green leaves that can be round or oval. The flowers are usually either tube- or funnel-shaped and may be white, pink, red, purple, yellow, or blue. Some plants produce clusters of more than 20 flowers. Others have single flowers or smaller clusters of two or three blooms. A number of species are known for the powerful fragrance of their flowers. |