Rhododendron tsariense

Rhododendron tsariense is a modest Himalayan botanical species with particularly attractive foliage due to the visible tawny to russet felting underneath the leaves. Its spring flowering, delicately coloured in white with a touch of pink, is charming. The bush is attractive in all seasons. No more difficult to grow than hybrid rhododendrons, it will delight owners of small gardens, as well as collectors!

Rhododendrons are plants from the heath family, just like heathers. These plants prefer soils devoid of limestone, with an acidic tendency, well-drained soils, and humid climates. Rhododendron tsariense is native to Bhutan, south and southeast Tibet, and Assam, where it grows between 3,000 and 4,000 metres (10 and 13 feet) above sea level. It was introduced to Europe in 1914. It is a frost-resistant plant.

This small shrub has a bushy, fairly branched, rounded habit, reaching a height and width of about 1.30 metres (4 feet), under good conditions. The woolly branches, covered in hairs, bear leaves that are obovate to oblong in shape, measuring 2 to 7cm (1 to 3in) long, with a persistent white pubescence on the upper side throughout the growing season and beyond. The underside of the leaves presents a woolly covering, initially whitish, turning tawny and then russet at maturity. The young shoots and flower buds are also woolly. Flowering usually occurs in April, earlier or later depending on the climate. The bell-shaped flowers, measuring 2.5 to 3.5cm (0.79 to 1.18in) long, are grouped in threes to six. They are white to pale pink or white-washed with pink and speckled with crimson. This flowering is not fragrant. This bush likes partial shade and moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil with an acidic pH ranging from 4.5 to 6.5.

Rhododendron tsariense enchants with the beauty of its foliage and pastel flowering, which precedes that of most other "Rhodos." It can be used in isolation, in a damp rockery or in a mass planting, always in partial shade and of course in the company of other acid-loving shrubs, in well-drained soil. It can be associated with Japanese azaleas, small deciduous magnolias, andromedas (Pieris), painted ferns, and more. Its small size also allows it to be grown in a large pot on a slightly shaded terrace.