Rhododendron argyrophyllum subsp. nankingense 'Chinese Silver'
Common name: 
Chinese Silver Rhododendron
Pronunciation: 
rho-do-DEN-dron ar-gi-ro-FIL-um nan-KING-en-se
Family: 
Ericaceae
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf evergreen shrub, 5 ft (1.5m) in 10 years, finally to 10 ft (3 m) high with somewhat less spread.  Leaves alternate, simple, oblong, 5-10 cm long, leathery, upper surface glossy green, lower surface silvery.  Flowers in lax clusters, funnel-bell shaped, 5 lobed, about 5 cm across, white and pink, darker on outside of lobes.
  • 0°F, early-early-mid, 3/5 [flower / plant & foliage; scale 1 (poor) - 5 (best)].
  • Native to China, a clone, ‘Chinese Silver’, was given an Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Hort. Soc. in 1933.
  • argyrophyllum: argyro-, silver, -phyllum, leaved; i.e., with silver leaves.    nankingense: from Nanking, China.
  • Federal Way, Washington, Rhododendron Species and Botanical Garden.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flower clusters

    flower clusters

  • flower

    flower

  • leaf

    leaf