Rhododendron Research
@heyrhododendron.bsky.social
Research group investigating physiology, ecology, evolutionary biology and conservation of genus Rhododendron. Sharing research, gardens, plant exploration, art, culture, events, anything and everything Rhododendron
OMG it’s happening!!!
Rhododendron excellens is finally blooming!
And it smells like…
Drumroll please 🥁
BANANAS!
Scent profile confirmed with several coworkers, it will be fun to see what VOCs we get out of this one and it it has chemistry that looks like anything related to banana 🍌
🧪🪴🌱🌿🍁🌏😍🌸
Rhododendron excellens is finally blooming!
And it smells like…
Drumroll please 🥁
BANANAS!
Scent profile confirmed with several coworkers, it will be fun to see what VOCs we get out of this one and it it has chemistry that looks like anything related to banana 🍌
🧪🪴🌱🌿🍁🌏😍🌸
February 9, 2026 at 2:02 PM
OMG it’s happening!!!
Rhododendron excellens is finally blooming!
And it smells like…
Drumroll please 🥁
BANANAS!
Scent profile confirmed with several coworkers, it will be fun to see what VOCs we get out of this one and it it has chemistry that looks like anything related to banana 🍌
🧪🪴🌱🌿🍁🌏😍🌸
Rhododendron excellens is finally blooming!
And it smells like…
Drumroll please 🥁
BANANAS!
Scent profile confirmed with several coworkers, it will be fun to see what VOCs we get out of this one and it it has chemistry that looks like anything related to banana 🍌
🧪🪴🌱🌿🍁🌏😍🌸
Reposted by Rhododendron Research
Rhododendron ‘Pennywhistle’ flowering again, right on schedule. R. bagobonum seems to be very dominant in vireya hybrids, consistently producing small orange flowers with very heavy substance. 🌱 🌴
February 7, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Rhododendron ‘Pennywhistle’ flowering again, right on schedule. R. bagobonum seems to be very dominant in vireya hybrids, consistently producing small orange flowers with very heavy substance. 🌱 🌴
Reposted by Rhododendron Research
Litter thickness limits the seed germination and seedling growth of Rhododendron plants @peerj.bsky.social
Litter thickness limits the seed germination and seedling growth of Rhododendron plants
Litter is considered a major constraint that affects the sexual reproduction and regeneration of populations of Rhododendron seedlings. In this study, we analyzed the effects of litter accumulation and its allelopathy on the regeneration potential of four Rhododendron species, and investigated the impacts of different litter amounts and coverage methods on Rhododendron seed germination through indoor pot experiments. The results showed that low amounts of litter promoted the rate of emergence of seedlings, while high amounts of litter inhibited this process. The rate of emergence of Rhododendron reached its maximum value when the amount of litter was between 200 and 400 g/m2 . The seeds of four species of Rhododendron began to germinate between days 7 and 8 of the experiment. The duration of germination for the four Rhododendron species ranged from 8 to 11 days. Extracts from different decomposition layers of litter had a “suppressive” effect or a “low promotion and high inhibition” effect on the germination rates of four species of Rhododendron. The litter extract inhibited the germination of Rhododendron decorum and Rhododendron delavayi at 2 mg/mL of extract, while it promoted the germination of Rhododendron irroratum and Rhododendron agastum seeds. Therefore, the presence of litter under Rhododendron shrubs in Northwest Guizhou Province, China, likely reduces the germination of the populations of Rhododendron and may limit their renewal through sexual reproduction. Thus, this study suggests that the presence of litter under Rhododendron shrubs in Northwest Guizhou Province may significantly limit their reproduction by seeds.
dlvr.it
February 6, 2026 at 7:33 AM
Litter thickness limits the seed germination and seedling growth of Rhododendron plants @peerj.bsky.social
Reposted by Rhododendron Research
There’s absolutely no reason to be torn.
Only Rhododendron Ponticum is invasive in the U.K. and that’s the one we should ban and burn.
There are 1,000 other species to plant any of those at all. It’ll be fine.
Other ecosystems are beautiful, but we’re losing them to this Victorian mistake.
Only Rhododendron Ponticum is invasive in the U.K. and that’s the one we should ban and burn.
There are 1,000 other species to plant any of those at all. It’ll be fine.
Other ecosystems are beautiful, but we’re losing them to this Victorian mistake.
February 6, 2026 at 1:43 PM
There’s absolutely no reason to be torn.
Only Rhododendron Ponticum is invasive in the U.K. and that’s the one we should ban and burn.
There are 1,000 other species to plant any of those at all. It’ll be fine.
Other ecosystems are beautiful, but we’re losing them to this Victorian mistake.
Only Rhododendron Ponticum is invasive in the U.K. and that’s the one we should ban and burn.
There are 1,000 other species to plant any of those at all. It’ll be fine.
Other ecosystems are beautiful, but we’re losing them to this Victorian mistake.
Reposted by Rhododendron Research
I’m happy to share my first article #Biological Invasions
We show that Rhododendron ponticum alters carbon transformation in forest soils mainly through its recalcitrant litter rather than microclimate changes. These effects evolve over time highlighting the importance of invasion age. rdcu.be/e1Fek
We show that Rhododendron ponticum alters carbon transformation in forest soils mainly through its recalcitrant litter rather than microclimate changes. These effects evolve over time highlighting the importance of invasion age. rdcu.be/e1Fek
How does the invasion of forests by Rhododendron ponticum disrupt the transformation of carbon in soils?
rdcu.be
February 6, 2026 at 2:08 PM
I’m happy to share my first article #Biological Invasions
We show that Rhododendron ponticum alters carbon transformation in forest soils mainly through its recalcitrant litter rather than microclimate changes. These effects evolve over time highlighting the importance of invasion age. rdcu.be/e1Fek
We show that Rhododendron ponticum alters carbon transformation in forest soils mainly through its recalcitrant litter rather than microclimate changes. These effects evolve over time highlighting the importance of invasion age. rdcu.be/e1Fek
We’ve gathered over 4000 literature records on Rhododendron 🤯 👏🏼
References span 459 years of investigation and discovery 🌸💡
Topics range from ecology, reproductive biology, horticulture, medical chemistry, physiology, evolution and even some materials science 👀
🧪🍁🌏
www.zotero.org/groups/47355...
References span 459 years of investigation and discovery 🌸💡
Topics range from ecology, reproductive biology, horticulture, medical chemistry, physiology, evolution and even some materials science 👀
🧪🍁🌏
www.zotero.org/groups/47355...
Zotero | Groups > Rhodo-research.net
Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share research.
www.zotero.org
February 6, 2026 at 7:13 PM
We’ve gathered over 4000 literature records on Rhododendron 🤯 👏🏼
References span 459 years of investigation and discovery 🌸💡
Topics range from ecology, reproductive biology, horticulture, medical chemistry, physiology, evolution and even some materials science 👀
🧪🍁🌏
www.zotero.org/groups/47355...
References span 459 years of investigation and discovery 🌸💡
Topics range from ecology, reproductive biology, horticulture, medical chemistry, physiology, evolution and even some materials science 👀
🧪🍁🌏
www.zotero.org/groups/47355...
Reproductive barriers btw Rhododendron subgenera Tsutsusi & Pentanthera
Seeds obtained from Tsutsusi R ‘Tiehong’ crossed w Pentanthera sp R molle
Other crosses -> lack of pollen tube growth & seed abortion
Hormones trans-Zeatin-riboside & Brassinolide in ovaries implicated as controls
🧪🪴🌏🍁🌸🌿🌱
Seeds obtained from Tsutsusi R ‘Tiehong’ crossed w Pentanthera sp R molle
Other crosses -> lack of pollen tube growth & seed abortion
Hormones trans-Zeatin-riboside & Brassinolide in ovaries implicated as controls
🧪🪴🌏🍁🌸🌿🌱
Microscopic observation and hormone-targeted metabolomic analysis provide insights into the reproductive barriers of distant hybridization between Rhododendron subgenus Tsutsusi and subgenus Pentanthe...
Key message Embryo abortion occurred at 20 DAP of HFS × RM, with trans-Zeatin-riboside and brassinolide playing key roles during embryo abortion. Abstract Rhododendron is a world-famous flower with hi...
link.springer.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Reproductive barriers btw Rhododendron subgenera Tsutsusi & Pentanthera
Seeds obtained from Tsutsusi R ‘Tiehong’ crossed w Pentanthera sp R molle
Other crosses -> lack of pollen tube growth & seed abortion
Hormones trans-Zeatin-riboside & Brassinolide in ovaries implicated as controls
🧪🪴🌏🍁🌸🌿🌱
Seeds obtained from Tsutsusi R ‘Tiehong’ crossed w Pentanthera sp R molle
Other crosses -> lack of pollen tube growth & seed abortion
Hormones trans-Zeatin-riboside & Brassinolide in ovaries implicated as controls
🧪🪴🌏🍁🌸🌿🌱
Mystery Satsuki Azalea!
I am so IN LOVE with this plant 🤩😍🥰
Frankly I have not done her justice with these photos
we’ve got all variations of dark pink, light pink and white stripes and solids
Sadly…Lost the tag on this guy
attempts to ID so far unsuccessful
anybody want to venture a guess?
I am so IN LOVE with this plant 🤩😍🥰
Frankly I have not done her justice with these photos
we’ve got all variations of dark pink, light pink and white stripes and solids
Sadly…Lost the tag on this guy
attempts to ID so far unsuccessful
anybody want to venture a guess?
February 4, 2026 at 12:53 AM
Mystery Satsuki Azalea!
I am so IN LOVE with this plant 🤩😍🥰
Frankly I have not done her justice with these photos
we’ve got all variations of dark pink, light pink and white stripes and solids
Sadly…Lost the tag on this guy
attempts to ID so far unsuccessful
anybody want to venture a guess?
I am so IN LOVE with this plant 🤩😍🥰
Frankly I have not done her justice with these photos
we’ve got all variations of dark pink, light pink and white stripes and solids
Sadly…Lost the tag on this guy
attempts to ID so far unsuccessful
anybody want to venture a guess?
I should probably buy some lottery tickets because I just sent out two requests for manuscript review and got two positive replies in less than 30 minutes 🍀
February 3, 2026 at 6:41 PM
I should probably buy some lottery tickets because I just sent out two requests for manuscript review and got two positive replies in less than 30 minutes 🍀
Reposted by Rhododendron Research
Identification and functional characterization of heat shock transcription factor genes in Rhododendron Delavayi under heat stress https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41582120/
January 27, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Identification and functional characterization of heat shock transcription factor genes in Rhododendron Delavayi under heat stress https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41582120/
Not sure who in the N hemisphere needs to hear this right now, but
it’s been a long dark winter
we’re all feeling a bit squirrelly
don’t forget to take your vitamin D kids 🌞
& post your plant pix🪴
Spring is coming🌸
A few more mins of light every day🌈
Here’s R ‘Brown Eyes’ 🤩
To brighten your day
it’s been a long dark winter
we’re all feeling a bit squirrelly
don’t forget to take your vitamin D kids 🌞
& post your plant pix🪴
Spring is coming🌸
A few more mins of light every day🌈
Here’s R ‘Brown Eyes’ 🤩
To brighten your day
January 27, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Not sure who in the N hemisphere needs to hear this right now, but
it’s been a long dark winter
we’re all feeling a bit squirrelly
don’t forget to take your vitamin D kids 🌞
& post your plant pix🪴
Spring is coming🌸
A few more mins of light every day🌈
Here’s R ‘Brown Eyes’ 🤩
To brighten your day
it’s been a long dark winter
we’re all feeling a bit squirrelly
don’t forget to take your vitamin D kids 🌞
& post your plant pix🪴
Spring is coming🌸
A few more mins of light every day🌈
Here’s R ‘Brown Eyes’ 🤩
To brighten your day
Reposted by Rhododendron Research
Undertaking an MSc, MRes or MPhil in a plant pathology-related field?
BSPP bursaries of up to £4,000 open on 3 February.
www.bspp.org.uk/funds/mscmres/
BSPP bursaries of up to £4,000 open on 3 February.
www.bspp.org.uk/funds/mscmres/
January 27, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Undertaking an MSc, MRes or MPhil in a plant pathology-related field?
BSPP bursaries of up to £4,000 open on 3 February.
www.bspp.org.uk/funds/mscmres/
BSPP bursaries of up to £4,000 open on 3 February.
www.bspp.org.uk/funds/mscmres/
Reposted by Rhododendron Research
ASHS Award Nominations due Feb 4th - nominate your outstanding colleagues for recognition of their accomplishments!
https://ashs.org/page/AwardsNominations
#horticulture #plantscience
https://ashs.org/page/AwardsNominations
#horticulture #plantscience
January 27, 2026 at 11:00 AM
ASHS Award Nominations due Feb 4th - nominate your outstanding colleagues for recognition of their accomplishments!
https://ashs.org/page/AwardsNominations
#horticulture #plantscience
https://ashs.org/page/AwardsNominations
#horticulture #plantscience
Reposted by Rhododendron Research
The lichen Fellhanera bouteillei is a leaf specialist, here on a live and a dead rhododendron leaf. North Elmham today. Rarely recorded but rarely looked for!
January 22, 2026 at 5:09 PM
The lichen Fellhanera bouteillei is a leaf specialist, here on a live and a dead rhododendron leaf. North Elmham today. Rarely recorded but rarely looked for!
Synthesis of findings on alpine Rhododendron shrubs across several regions
Findings emphasize topographical modulation of growth responses to climate change
Alpine Rhododendron in dry sites may be at increasing risk of growth decline under warmer and drier future climate
🧪🍁🌏🪴🥵
Findings emphasize topographical modulation of growth responses to climate change
Alpine Rhododendron in dry sites may be at increasing risk of growth decline under warmer and drier future climate
🧪🍁🌏🪴🥵
Contrasting growth responses of alpine Rhododendron shrubs are mediated by topography on the Tibetan Plateau - Trees
Trees - Divergent shrub growth-temperature relationships were observed in adjacent shrubline sites under similar climates, demonstrating that site-specific factors such as topographic conditions...
link.springer.com
January 26, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Synthesis of findings on alpine Rhododendron shrubs across several regions
Findings emphasize topographical modulation of growth responses to climate change
Alpine Rhododendron in dry sites may be at increasing risk of growth decline under warmer and drier future climate
🧪🍁🌏🪴🥵
Findings emphasize topographical modulation of growth responses to climate change
Alpine Rhododendron in dry sites may be at increasing risk of growth decline under warmer and drier future climate
🧪🍁🌏🪴🥵
🎶
Anticipaaaaaaaaaaation
🎵
Is making me wait for “huge fragrant trusses” of Rhododendron excellens
We got our plant from Singing Tree Nursery singtree.com/products/r-e...
#bloomscrolling
Anticipaaaaaaaaaaation
🎵
Is making me wait for “huge fragrant trusses” of Rhododendron excellens
We got our plant from Singing Tree Nursery singtree.com/products/r-e...
#bloomscrolling
January 23, 2026 at 2:27 PM
🎶
Anticipaaaaaaaaaaation
🎵
Is making me wait for “huge fragrant trusses” of Rhododendron excellens
We got our plant from Singing Tree Nursery singtree.com/products/r-e...
#bloomscrolling
Anticipaaaaaaaaaaation
🎵
Is making me wait for “huge fragrant trusses” of Rhododendron excellens
We got our plant from Singing Tree Nursery singtree.com/products/r-e...
#bloomscrolling
Rhododendron root metabolome enriched in sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoids
microbial α-diversity peaked at full bloom
root metabolites mediated assembly of rhizosphere microbiome
volatile terpenoids correlated with 77 microbial taxa, including putative plant growth-promoting bacteria
🧪🪴🦠 🌏🍁
microbial α-diversity peaked at full bloom
root metabolites mediated assembly of rhizosphere microbiome
volatile terpenoids correlated with 77 microbial taxa, including putative plant growth-promoting bacteria
🧪🪴🦠 🌏🍁
Frontiers | Root Triterpenoid Metabolites Drive the Assembly and Feedback Regulation of the Rhizosphere Microbiome During Flowering to Senescence in Rhododendron hybridum
The flowering-to-senescence transition is a critical developmental period in ornamental plants, yet the interplay between root metabolites and the rhizospher...
www.frontiersin.org
January 16, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Rhododendron root metabolome enriched in sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoids
microbial α-diversity peaked at full bloom
root metabolites mediated assembly of rhizosphere microbiome
volatile terpenoids correlated with 77 microbial taxa, including putative plant growth-promoting bacteria
🧪🪴🦠 🌏🍁
microbial α-diversity peaked at full bloom
root metabolites mediated assembly of rhizosphere microbiome
volatile terpenoids correlated with 77 microbial taxa, including putative plant growth-promoting bacteria
🧪🪴🦠 🌏🍁
Reposted by Rhododendron Research
Rhododendron albiflorum, our uncommon White Azalea, blooming above the Lake Katherine trailhead #nativeplants
#FallBackFlowers #FallBack to July 14 🌿
#FallBackFlowers #FallBack to July 14 🌿
January 14, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Rhododendron albiflorum, our uncommon White Azalea, blooming above the Lake Katherine trailhead #nativeplants
#FallBackFlowers #FallBack to July 14 🌿
#FallBackFlowers #FallBack to July 14 🌿
I’ve been employed as a scientist, but also a retail janitor, hotel housekeeper & K12 substitute and middle school teacher
K12 teaching was the most demanding, the most rewarding, the most heartbreaking, the most inspiring, the most physically and emotionally grueling & MY MOST IMPORTANT work
K12 teaching was the most demanding, the most rewarding, the most heartbreaking, the most inspiring, the most physically and emotionally grueling & MY MOST IMPORTANT work
Just thinking about the time my school hired a transplant surgeon to teach 9th grade biology. He was going through a divorce and wanted to lower his income. He quit after three weeks because the job was too stressful.
January 15, 2026 at 3:50 PM
I’ve been employed as a scientist, but also a retail janitor, hotel housekeeper & K12 substitute and middle school teacher
K12 teaching was the most demanding, the most rewarding, the most heartbreaking, the most inspiring, the most physically and emotionally grueling & MY MOST IMPORTANT work
K12 teaching was the most demanding, the most rewarding, the most heartbreaking, the most inspiring, the most physically and emotionally grueling & MY MOST IMPORTANT work
📣 Good lab safety is proactive & intentional
👏🏼Prioritize safety over samples & protocols w foreseeable risk management
👏🏼Make a plan for how to stay safe when something unexpected happens
👏🏼Build redundancies & eliminate pressure to take risks for a sample in the moment
Stay safe science kids!
🧪
👏🏼Prioritize safety over samples & protocols w foreseeable risk management
👏🏼Make a plan for how to stay safe when something unexpected happens
👏🏼Build redundancies & eliminate pressure to take risks for a sample in the moment
Stay safe science kids!
🧪
January 15, 2026 at 12:53 PM
📣 Good lab safety is proactive & intentional
👏🏼Prioritize safety over samples & protocols w foreseeable risk management
👏🏼Make a plan for how to stay safe when something unexpected happens
👏🏼Build redundancies & eliminate pressure to take risks for a sample in the moment
Stay safe science kids!
🧪
👏🏼Prioritize safety over samples & protocols w foreseeable risk management
👏🏼Make a plan for how to stay safe when something unexpected happens
👏🏼Build redundancies & eliminate pressure to take risks for a sample in the moment
Stay safe science kids!
🧪
Chindallae-kkot (Azaleas)
By Kim So-Wol
Published in 1925
English Translation in the comments by anthony.sogang.ac.kr/Azaleas.htm
By Kim So-Wol
Published in 1925
English Translation in the comments by anthony.sogang.ac.kr/Azaleas.htm
진달래꽃 _詩 김소월(낭송 이온겸)
YouTube video by 이온겸낭송가
youtu.be
January 14, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Chindallae-kkot (Azaleas)
By Kim So-Wol
Published in 1925
English Translation in the comments by anthony.sogang.ac.kr/Azaleas.htm
By Kim So-Wol
Published in 1925
English Translation in the comments by anthony.sogang.ac.kr/Azaleas.htm
Reposted by Rhododendron Research
An interesting article about how increased collaboration between the world's botanical gardens could have a positive effect on plant conservation. We are glad our staff was able to contribute to the original research. Learn more: www.earth.com/news/connect...
Connecting the world’s botanic gardens could help save thousands of plants
Botanic gardens hold a third of Earth’s plant species, but broken data systems are slowing conservation when climate risks are rising.
www.earth.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:13 AM
An interesting article about how increased collaboration between the world's botanical gardens could have a positive effect on plant conservation. We are glad our staff was able to contribute to the original research. Learn more: www.earth.com/news/connect...
Rhododendron minus
White form
Grown from seeds collected at Mt Pisgah State Park in North Carolina
White form
Grown from seeds collected at Mt Pisgah State Park in North Carolina
January 13, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Rhododendron minus
White form
Grown from seeds collected at Mt Pisgah State Park in North Carolina
White form
Grown from seeds collected at Mt Pisgah State Park in North Carolina
Reposted by Rhododendron Research
A new #endemic species from the karst areas of Guangxi and Guizhou Provinces in China, 𝘙𝘩𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦, has been described, illustrated, and is assessed as “Endangered” following IUCN criteria in one of our latest publications:
doi.org/10.3897/phyt...
#Conservation #morphology #taxonomy
doi.org/10.3897/phyt...
#Conservation #morphology #taxonomy
January 12, 2026 at 8:09 AM
A new #endemic species from the karst areas of Guangxi and Guizhou Provinces in China, 𝘙𝘩𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦, has been described, illustrated, and is assessed as “Endangered” following IUCN criteria in one of our latest publications:
doi.org/10.3897/phyt...
#Conservation #morphology #taxonomy
doi.org/10.3897/phyt...
#Conservation #morphology #taxonomy
👀 Insights into Bioactive Molecules in Rhododendron tomentosum: From Metabolomics to Biological Applications
🧪complete chemical & biological characterization of hydroalcoholic extract of tips of twigs
⚕️combining untargeted metabolomic analysis with bioassays
www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16...
🧪complete chemical & biological characterization of hydroalcoholic extract of tips of twigs
⚕️combining untargeted metabolomic analysis with bioassays
www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16...
January 12, 2026 at 2:25 PM
👀 Insights into Bioactive Molecules in Rhododendron tomentosum: From Metabolomics to Biological Applications
🧪complete chemical & biological characterization of hydroalcoholic extract of tips of twigs
⚕️combining untargeted metabolomic analysis with bioassays
www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16...
🧪complete chemical & biological characterization of hydroalcoholic extract of tips of twigs
⚕️combining untargeted metabolomic analysis with bioassays
www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16...