Subgenus Rhododendron
Section Rhododendron
Subsection Ledum

Small, erect or decumbent shrub, 0.3-1.2m; young shoots ferrugineous-lanate, glandular. Leaves 0.6-5 x 0.1-0.5(1.2)cm, linear to narrowly elliptic-oblong, margin strongly revolute, upper surface dark green, dull, lower surface densely ferrugineous-lanate, epidermis with or without short setulose hairs, sometimes also with reddish glands, scales rimless, golden.

Flowers many, in a loose terminal umbellate corymb; calyx minute; corolla white, rotate, 4-8mm; stamens 7-10; ovary glandular, style glabrous.

-20F (-29C)

June-July

Holarctic; s.1-2,000m

ssp. subarcticum
Leaves 0.6-2 x 0.1-0.3cm, lower epidermis with few or no setulose hairs.

Arctic regions of Europe, America and Russia, also Japan (Hokkaido) and Korea.

Source: The Rhododendron Handbook 1998; Published by the Royal Horticulture Society