Fittingly he named it Rhododendron grande. Wight found this new species growing in Bhutan but following his discovery it has also been found in Eastern Nepal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Southern Tibet.
In the wild it grows in temperate evergreen and mixed rainforests between 2100-3200 metres where it can grow to 15m high.
On the reverse side of the large medium green coloured leaves there is a smooth silvery to fawn covering, which is actually a layer of plastered down hairs that a light rub of the finger can strip away to reveal green leaf underneath.
The flower trusses of 15-25 well-textured florets are commonly cream to pale yellow but can also be pink with a central blotch and spots.
Since Wight’s discovery in 1847, a further 10 species have been discovered with similarly large leaves, flowers and stature. One of those, R. sinogrande has leaves up to 30cm wide and 90cm long, the largest of any rhododendron. Subsequently these 11 species have been grouped together to form that portion of the genus Rhododendron known as Subsection Grandia.
There are several specimens of Rhododendron grande scattered throughout the rhododendron dell but one of the best specimens can be found at the head of the gully between the azalea garden and the small footbridge just to the south.
Garden Life is produced by Dunedin Botanic Garden. For further information contact Doug Thomson
