About Rhododendron schlippenbachii Maxim.
Rhododendron schlippenbachii Maxim. is a dense deciduous shrub. It can grow up to 4.5 m (15 ft) in height, though it most commonly reaches 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) tall. Its leaves are obovate, measuring 4.5 cm (1.8 in) long and 2.5–4.5 cm (0.98–1.77 in) broad, and covered in scattered glandular hairs. Its flowers range from white to pink, and often have small red spots on the upper three petals. Flowers are produced from late spring to early summer. The specific epithet schlippenbachii comes from Baron von Schlippenbach, a Russian officer who first collected this species in 1854. In Korean, this plant is called cheoljjuk (철쭉); white-petaled forms of the flower are called huincheoljjuk (흰철쭉). It is commonly known as the Royal Azalea, and is a popular local symbol for provinces, cities, and counties in South Korea, including Gangwon Province, Gapyeong, and Miryang. It is widely cultivated across many regions of the world, and some cultivars produce white flowers. Its fruit is egg-shaped and oval, 1.5 cm (0.59 in) long, covered in glandular hairs, and ripens in October. Like other azaleas, this plant is poisonous and is not edible.
