Vireya RhododendronRhododendron
(roh-do-DEN-dron)
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These plants are often referred to as tropical rhododendrons or the Malesian Rhododendron neither of which is the best term to use. I simply call them Vireya. There was quite a few specimens at the Pana`ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens near Hilo. Having the plants grouped together and in bloom was a special treat. The Zoo and Gardens are small but had some interesting things and I was glad I stopped in. Since it was free the price was certainly right.
Click Here for a Larger VersionThere are about 330 different species of Vireya Rhododendrons and hundreds of cultivars. They never have blue pigment in the flowers and nor are the flowers spotted. These plants cannot tolerate frost and often grow in the cooler upper elevation ( 3,000-7,500 feet) mountain areas of the Philippines, Borneo, New Guinea and Indonesia and the surrounding island groups. A few species are considered native to India, Australia, Taiwan and the Solomon Islands. They grow as epiphytes (a plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic) in the wild but can also be terrestrial in habit. The flowers of the white one were particularly fragrant.
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