Rhododendron luteiflorum
Common name: 
Luteiflorum Rhododendron
Pronunciation: 
ro-do-DEN-dron lut-e-i-FLO-rum
Family: 
Ericaceae
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf evergreen shrub, small, compact, rounded, to about 2 ft (60 cm) in 10 years, ultimately 5 ft (1.5 m).   Leaves simple, alternate, lanceolate, oblanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 4-7 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm wide, apex rounded or obtuse, mucronate (short tip), base tapered, obtuse or rounded, upper surface dark green, which may or may not be scaly, lower surface glaucous (waxy bloom), lepidote (small, scruffy scales), aromatic.   Flowers lemon to greenish yellow, about 2.5 cm long, campanulate, 5-lobed, 10 unequal stamens, 3-6 flowers per terminal cluster.
  • 0°F, early-mid, quality rating 3-4/3/3 [flower / plant & foliage / performance; scale 1 (poor) - 5 (best)].  Part shade.
  • Native to northern Burma (Myanmar); it was only discovered in 1953 by Frank Kingdon-Ward, English botanist and explorer [1885-1958], and his wife; introduced as No. 21040.  Once listed as R. glaucophyllum var. luteiflorum.
  • Considered one of the finest yellow-flowered dwarf rhododendrons in cultivation.  The species was given the Award of Merit in 1960 (RHS) and the First Class Certificate in 1966 when exhibited by the National Trust for Scotland, Brodick Castle Gardens.
  • luteiflorum: with yellow flowers.
  • Federal Way, Washington: Rhododendron Species and Botanical Garden
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flowers and leaves

    flowers and leaves

  • leaves

    leaves