Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Rhododendron callimorphum ssp. myiagrum
Large-leaved Rhododendron
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Height
- 3 to 9 ft
- Width
- 3 to 9 ft
- Flower color
- White, sometimes with faint flecking or a subtle blotch
- Foliage color
- Evergreen, dark glossy round green foliage
- Bloom time
- Late spring to early summer
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; prune lightly after bloom
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 7 to 9
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract bees and other pollinators; dense evergreen structure can provide cover for small birds
About this plant
Rhododendron callimorphum ssp. myiagrum is an evergreen rhododendron with a compact shrub form and rounded to broadly oval leaves. In mid to late spring, it bears bell-shaped flowers that are usually white to blush or rose-pink, typically marked with a subtle basal blotch and sometimes faint flecking. The bloom clusters sit close to the foliage, giving a refined, tucked-in floral display that suits woodland borders and rock-garden settings.
This plant comes from western and west-central Yunnan where it grows on rocky slopes and cliffs at high elevations. It entered cultivation through early 20th-century plant collecting and is still regarded as a choice species for collectors who enjoy subtle flower coloring, neat foliage, and a late-spring flowering season.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Slopes & Banks · Rock Gardens · Woodland Gardens
Companion plants
Peony · Cotoneaster · Wallflower · Fountain grass · Tickseed · Escallonia
Design tip
Give this rhododendron a prominent role among rocks or other strong garden features, where its compact form can balance their visual weight. Keeping nearby planting relatively simple allows its rounded silhouette to remain distinct rather than disappearing into a crowded collection of shrubs.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.
