Rhododendrons In The Backyard

Daughter: “Dad, look! Lovely rose tree!”

Father: Sweetie, it’s not Rose, it’s Rhododendron.”

Daughter: “Rhododendron?” “How do you spell it?”

Father: “Ok…..you’re right, it is a Rose.”

Everytime we see Rhododendrons, hubby would always tell this little joke, and no matter how many times I hear that same old waltz, I still couldn’t say the name of this flower right. Sometimes I say, Rhodedendron, sometimes Rhedodendron, whatever.

Rhododendron actually means “rose tree” (Greek: Rhodos, “rose” and dendron, “tree”). It has many species characterized by shrubs and small to large trees. It is common both in the northern and southern hemisphere. Some species are grown commercially but the one above probably is not for sale cos it grows densely in the backyard of some houses in the summertime.