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Rhododendron anagalliflorum Wernham

Habitat:

A vireya rhododendron native to New Guinea, with a main range from West Papua (Irian Jaya) across Papua New Guinea, also recorded on New Britain (Mt Lululua). It grows in montane forests as a small epiphyte (sometimes on humus over rocks) between 1,100–3,000 m. Conditions are cool, very well-drained, and misty, with frequent cloud and high rainfall.

Description:

A dwarf, epiphytic shrub to about 0.2 m tall, with young stems distinctly scaly (scales borne on minute projections). Leaves are minute, elliptic, 0.3–0.7 × 0.2–0.3 cm; upper surface nearly glabrous with a few fugitive silvery scales, venation obscure; lower surface with scattered brown, discoid to incised scales. Flowers are solitary, half-hanging to hanging; calyx a low, slightly lobed scaly ring; corolla white, variably flushed pink to purple, cylindrical to narrowly funnel-shaped, ≈1.2–1.8 × 1.3–1.8 cm; 10 stamens clustered round the mouth; ovary with semi-erect white hairs and silvery scales; style hairy basally, glabrous above. It has been confused with R. rubineiflorum, but that species has deeper-coloured, broader flowers; R. anagalliflorum is paler and narrower-flowered.

Cultivation:

Best treated as a vireya for alpine house/warm greenhouse or a very mild, frost-free climate. Provide bright, filtered light and a very free-draining, acidic medium (e.g., fine orchid bark + perlite + coarse peat/coir; pH ~5.0–6.0). Keep evenly moist in growth but never sodden; allow the top to just approach dryness between waterings. Aim for day temperatures 18–24 °C and nights 10–15 °C; avoid drops below ~5–7 °C (not hardy outdoors in most temperate regions; RHS H2). Moderate humidity (≈50–70%) with steady air movement suits it well. Feed lightly during active growth with a dilute, balanced, acid-formulating fertiliser; collections have reported success with very dilute, regular feeds in the growing season. Excellent for hanging baskets given its small size and pendant flowers.

Specifications:

Plant Size: Flowering sized at 10-15 cm tall.

Plant Family: Ericaceae

Plant Passport: A Rhododendron anagalliflorum B 140084 C [user input] D GB

Rhododendron anagalliflorum ( section Vireya)

SKU: Rhododendron anagalliflorum
£70.00Price
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