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Rhododendron calendulaceum
There were a lot of these Rhododendrons in Lyme Park, Peak District where this was taken. But over the past few years they are slowly being killed off. The reason being that they poison the soil around them making it impossible for other species to flourish and the Rhododendrons spread and take over. There is just about every shade of purple in these trees. The same process is taking place at Errwood in Goyt Valley also in the Peak District. They were planted by the Grimshawe family that built an estate there in the 18th century. I visited only the other week and almost all of them have gone. There were yellow and white at Errwood.
''Rhododendron calendulaceum'' , is a species of ''Rhododendron'' native to the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States, ranging from southern New York to northern Georgia.
It is a deciduous shrub, 120–450 cm tall. The leaves are 3–7 cm long, slightly dull green above and villous below. The flowers are 4–5 cm long, usually bright orange, but can vary from pastel orange to dark reddish-orange.
Image:Flame Azalea Rhododendron calendulaceum 'Mandarin Red' Flowers.. more
