Complimentary 
NEW SERIES VOL. VII 
NO. 3 
ARNOLD ARBORETUM 
HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
BULLETIN 
OF 
POPULAR INFORMATION 
JAMAICA PLAIN, MASS. MAY 5. 1921 
Asiatic Azaleas. Of the thirty-four species of Azalea {Rhododendron 
subgenus Anthrodendron) of eastern Asia five species are thoroughly 
established in the Arboretum. These are in the order of their flow- 
ering, R. yedoense, R. Schlippenbachii, R. reticulatum, R. ohtusum var. 
Kaempferi, and R. japonicum. 
The yellow-flowered Chinese R. molle {R. sinense of some authors 
and not to be confounded with the plant known in gardens as Azalea 
mollis which is a hybrid), is in the Arboretum and occasionally flowers 
here, although it cannot be considered hardy in this climate. The Jap- 
anese R. Tschonoskii, with flowers more minute than those of other 
Azaleas, is an old inhabitant of the Arboretum. It has, however, no 
value as a garden plant and is only interesting as a botanical curiosity. 
There are several other Asiatic species of Azalea in the Arboretum 
nurseries and a few of them, judging by regions where they grow nat- 
urally, will perhaps prove able to adapt themselves to New England 
conditions. None of them, however, will be as valuable garden plants 
as the five species mentioned in the first paragraph of this Bulletin. 
Some of the species, however, which the Arboretum has introduced 
from southern Japan and Formosa may be expected to be valuable 
additions to the garden flora of the southern states. Mention of R. 
yedoense and its variety poukhanense was made in a recent issue of 
these Bulletins. It is of interest that the great rainfall and low tem- 
perature of April 30 and May 1 did not injure the flowers of this Korean 
plant which are in as good condition as they were a week ago. 
Rhododendron Schlippenbachii. The pale pink fragrant flowers, 
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