About the plant
Rhododendron simsii is native to much of eastern Asia including China, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam.
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Not yet evaluated
The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species uses a set of criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of the world’s species. The ongoing mission is to evaluate every plant species in the world.
IUCN Red List Status:
Not yet evaluatedData deficientLeast concernNear threatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically endangeredExtinct in the wildExtinct -
House plantPlant makes a good indoor plant in the UK
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Invertebrate foodPlant is eaten by native and feral animals
Facts
- Flowers range from pale pink to dark red
- Grows to 2m tall in 10 years
- Named for John Sims, an English botanist
© Harriet Maxwell
© Harriet Maxwell
By Tim Waters via flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
By Prenn via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
By Prenn via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Defence strategy
Glasshouse thrips (tiny flying insects) can cause extensive damage to plants in the glasshouses at Kew. But Kew’s horticulturists noticed R.simsii was able to survive heavy infestations when other species did not.
Chemical analysis of the young leaves showed they contain very high concentrations of a chemical that is toxic to thrips. By protecting just its young leaves and buds with this chemical, R. simsii doesn’t expend too much energy, while ensuring the most important foliage survives and it can recover the following spring.
-
Not yet evaluated
The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species uses a set of criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of the world’s species. The ongoing mission is to evaluate every plant species in the world.
IUCN Red List Status:
Not yet evaluatedData deficientLeast concernNear threatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically endangeredExtinct in the wildExtinct -
House plantPlant makes a good indoor plant in the UK
-
Invertebrate foodPlant is eaten by native and feral animals