Rhododendron davidsonianum

Rhododendron davidsonianum, the concave-leaf rhododendron,^[3] is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae that is native to the forests of Sichuan, China, where it lives at elevations of 1,500–2,800 m (4,900–9,200 ft).^[4] Growing to 4 m (13 ft) tall and 2.5 m (8.2 ft) broad, it is an upright evergreen shrub. The glossy leaves are lanceolate and up to 6 cm (2.4 in) long. In spring trusses of bell-shaped, pale pink or purple flowers are produced.^[5]

Rhododendron davidsonianum
cv. 'Ruth Lyon'
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Ericaceae
Genus:	Rhododendron
Species:	R. davidsonianum
Binomial name
Rhododendron davidsonianum Rehder & E.H.Wilson (1913)[1]
Synonyms
Rhododendron charianthum Hutch.[2]

In cultivation in the UK, Rhododendron davidsonianum has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[3][6] Like most rhododendrons it prefers an acid soil. It is hardy down to −15 °C (5 °F).