Rhododendron simsii var. albiflorum R. L. Liu (Acta Bot. Yunnan. 15: 190. 1993), described from Jiangxi, is probably no more than an albino form of R. simsii.
Rhododendron simsii var. strigosostylum G. Z. Li (Guihaia 15: 298. 1995 [“strigoso-stylum”]), was described from Guangxi and said to differ from var. simsii in having a corolla rose-pink to red, with minute lobes ca. 2 × 1 mm, and a style silky-strigose below. The present authors have seen no material, but, from the original description, it seems likely that this entity is a hybrid of the widely cultivated R. simsii.
Rhododendron simsii has been used widely in horticulture as a parent of both the “pot azalea” cultivars and a range of cultivars grown in the warmer parts of China.
Rhododendron simsii (杜鵑) is a rhododendron species native to East Asia, where it grows at altitudes of 500–2,700 m (1,600–8,900 ft).
It is a twiggy evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub growing to 2 m (6.6 ft) in height, with leaves that are ovate, elliptic-ovate or obovate to oblanceolate, 1.5–5 by 0.5–3 cm in size. The flowers range from white to dark red. Some varieties of Rhododendron simsii are poisonous due to the presence of grayanotoxin.[1]
The species is common in Hong Kong. It is also distributed in Areas south of Yangtze in China as well as in Vietnam and Thailand.[2]
The specific name simsii commemorates John Sims (1749-1831) who was the first editor of "Magazine Botanique". [3]
This slightly tender species is quite rare in the west, though well known in Chinese gardens.[4]
Rhododendron simsii (杜鵑) is a rhododendron species native to East Asia, where it grows at altitudes of 500–2,700 m (1,600–8,900 ft).
