Common Name:

General Information

Rhododendron myrtifolium is a dwarf, evergreen shrub of close habit - it can eventually reach up to 50cm tall and wide, forming a dense hemispherical mass[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a tea. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental in gardens.
Rhododendron myrtifolium is restricted to higher elevations; the species is also severely fragmented and several subpopulations have been lost. The main threats are grazing, and also succession due to a decrease in traditional cultivation. Climate change is also posing a threat to this high elevation species. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2016)[].

Known Hazards

Although no specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, all parts of Rhododendron species (including the leaves, flowers and pollen) contain greater or lesser amounts of the toxic compound andromedotoxin (also known as grayanotoxin). Rarely lethal to humans (and used medicinally in some herbal disciplines), this compound causes dose-dependant overstimulation of the central nervous system with symptoms including various cardiovascular effects (mainly low blood pressure and cardiac rhythm disorders); nausea and vomiting; and a change in consciousness. The effects commence shortly after ingestion and last around two days. These effects are also transferred to honey made from the nectar of the flowers. In some parts of the world bees are used to deliberately produce a honey rich in andromedotoxin which is then eaten for its supposed medicinal, hallucinogenic and aphrodisiac effects.
In contrast to humans, many other creatures are more susceptible to the toxin and it has sometimes proved lethal to grazing animals and household pets. Some forms of honeybees are also killed by the toxin (resistant forms of the bee are used for honey production). Bumblebees are not affected, however, and are also more efficient in pollinating rhododendron flowers, so one theory is that the toxin is produced by the plant in order to favour the bumblebee and improve fertilization rates[].

Botanical References

Range

Eastern Europe - Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, southwest Russia

Habitat

Higher elevations in forest pine scrub to open moorland on acid soils, often over limestone, forming large stands with Juniperus nana in the alpine heaths. It orefers humid sheltered places where erosion is limited, often on northern aspect slopes[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.50 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Rhododendron myrtifolium is a very cold-tolerant plant, when fully dormant it can withstand temperatures down to about -25°c[]. Although cold-tolerant when dormant, the flowers and young growth of Rhododendrons are very susceptible to damage by late frosts in regions where these are likely to occur after new growth has commenced in the spring[].
Rhododendron species generally succeed when grown in a non-compacted, humus rich lime free soil and a position with some shade, preferably light woodland shade. They strongly dislike soils of a dry arid nature, heavy soils or clays[]. Prefers a peaty or well-drained sandy loam[]. Succeeds in sun or shade, the warmer the climate the more shade a plant requires[]. Requires a pH between 4.5 and 5.5[].
Rhododendron species are mainly woodland species that grow well in the dappled shade and shelter given by the other woodland plants. They are surface-rooting species with a fibrous root system, however, and do not grow well close to trees that are also surface-rooting, nor do they do well with ground cover or other small plants growing over or into their roots[, ].
Plants form a root ball and are very tolerant of being transplanted, even when quite large, so long as the root ball is kept intact[].

Edible Uses

Some caution is advised if consuming this plant - see the notes above on toxicity.

The plant is used to make a tea[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn and given artificial light. Alternatively sow the seed in a lightly shaded part of the warm greenhouse in late winter or in a cold greenhouse in mid spring. Surface-sow the seed and do not allow the compost to become dry[]. Pot up the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a greenhouse for at least the first winter.
Layering in late July. Takes 15 - 24 months[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, August in a frame. Difficult[].