Rhododendron lagopus var. niphophilum ("Yukigunimitsubatsutsuji")

Japanese name: ユキグニミツバツツジ （雪国三葉躑躅）
Scientific name: Rhododendron lagopus var. niphophilum

[Overview]
A deciduous shrub 1.5–3 m tall, found in forests in the mountains.
Young branches are thin and hairless.
The leaves are simple, borne in threes in a whorl-like arrangement at the branch tips, and are rhombic-orbicular, 4–7 cm long and 3–5 cm wide.
The leaf stalk is 0.3–0.6 cm long and hairless.
The flowers open before the leaves unfold or almost at the same time, and 1–2 flowers are borne at the branch tips.
The flowers are reddish purple and 4 cm across; the corolla is funnel-shaped and 5-lobed.
The upper inner surface of the corolla has dark spots.
There are 10 stamens.
The calyx and flower stalks are densely covered with pale brown soft hairs.
The fruit is a capsule densely covered with pale brown soft hairs.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
Cuttings are also possible, although the rooting rate is very poor.
It prefers fertile, acidic soil that is sunny, well drained, and moisture-retentive.
Avoid dry places, or prevent the base of the plant from drying out by mulching or similar means.
For potted plants, from spring to autumn it is best placed in partial shade out of the afternoon sun and direct summer sunlight, and from autumn to spring in a sunny spot sheltered from cold wind; for plants in the ground, a place shaded by deciduous trees is good.
For potted plants, from autumn to spring water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, and in midsummer water twice, in the cool morning and evening, wetting the leaves as well.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient except in summer; in summer water in the cool morning or evening, wetting the leaves as well, and in winter, if dry weather continues, water in the morning of a warm day.
Apply organic fertilizer or slow-release chemical fertilizer with equal amounts of the three components around the plant three times in total: fertilizer in winter, fertilizer after flowering, and in autumn.
Do not prune; tidy the shape only by removing excess buds in early summer after flowering.
Remove spent flowers promptly.
Pests and diseases include spider mites, azalea lace bugs, and Benimon-aoringa moths.

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