Rhododendron campylocarpum ssp. caloxanthum

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Key characteristics

Family: Ericaceae
Height: 2 to 3.5 ft
Width: 2 to 3.5 ft
Flower color: Pale primrose to sulfur-yellow, bell-shaped flowers; deep orange buds
Foliage color: Evergreen, dark glossy round green foliage
Bloom time: Early to mid spring
Light: Part shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; prune lightly after bloom
Growing zone: USDA zones 7 to 8
Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and other pollinators; dense evergreen structure can provide cover for small birds

Shrubs

Rhododendron campylocarpum ssp. caloxanthum

Discolor Rhododendron

Rhododendron campylocarpum subsp. caloxanthum is an evergreen rhododendron with rounded, glossy green leaves, forming a compact, free-flowering shrub. In spring, deep orange to orange-scarlet buds open into clusters of bell-shaped flowers in pale primrose to brighter yellow. Trusses are usually loose, carrying several blooms, and some flowers show a subtle reddish basal blotch that adds depth near the throat.

This subspecies is native to the eastern Himalaya region, extending through parts of Tibet and western Yunnan into northeastern Myanmar.

Light

Part shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Early to mid spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Shade Gardens
Borders
Cottage Gardens
Woodland Gardens

Companion plants

Daphne · Brunnera · Tiarella · Camellia · Bleeding heart · Hellebore

Design tip

Bring this compact rhododendron toward the front of a layered planting, where larger shrubs will not overwhelm its tidy form. Its unusual yellow flowers are especially effective near a path or entry, where their softer coloring can be appreciated at close range.