Description
Hailing from Western Sichuan, China this lovely showy evergreen broadleaf shrub has bold purple wide funnel shaped flowers appear in May-June. Its 3cm flower colour is highly variable where it ranges from a bold purple to dark reddish purple to a bright blueish mauve with, at most times, a green or brown flare. Common locally in its mountainous woodland setting up to 11,000 feet.
- Seed Count: 25-30
- Collection Date: November 2024
- Hardiness Zone: 6-9
- Height and Width: 2m x 2m
- Habitat: full to semi sun; well draining humus rich acidic moist soils.
- Family: Ericaceae
How to germinate Rhododendron trichanthum seeds
Rub peat moss through a 4mm screen to create fine lump free milled peat moss. Add 20/30 filter sand (10% content max) and greensand at 1 tbsp/gallon of medium). Moisten, blend well and fill pots/flats/WHT, tamp firm. Sprinkle seeds thinly on medium surface. Mist well. Give gentle warmth (20-25C). Lightly mist daily. Provide strong indirect light. Clear plastic cover helps maintain humidity and enhance germination /seedling survival by not letting medium desiccate. Seeds should germinate in 10 days. Never let seedlings nor medium dry out nor over water. Prick out when large enough to handle into individual pots and grow on. Shallow rooted. Be warned seedlings have very fine hair like roots and can damage easily. Have pots ready to receive when transplanting to avoid roots from drying out.
