National Parks of Taiwan

Tseng, who specializes in the study of wild rhododendrons in Taiwan, noted that there are about 16 species of native rhododendrons in Taiwan. For example, some epiphytic ones grow at cloud forests ranging from 1500m to 2500m in altitude. They are the only species with yellow corollas and dwell on the branches of red cypress endemic to Taiwan. Some native species, such as Rhododendron kanehirai Wilson, are distributed around Peishih River in northern Taiwan, and they are the only species that grow in the subtropical low-altitude areas. Species such as Breviperulatum, Rhododendron formosanum, Rhododendron hyperythrum, Rhododendron noriakianum, and Rhododendron rubropilosum grow in clusters; and species with the largest number but scatter from 150m to 2700m above the sea level include Rhododendron oldhamii Maxim as well as other native ones.

Native rhododendrons can be found throughout different altitudes, from the low-lying riverbanks to mountains well over 4000m high, and they bloom in spring and flower nearly all year round. Rhododendrons have brilliant corollas ranging from yellow, white, pink, brick red, light purple and fuchsia, so when they bloom around the rivers and on the hills, those who watch them would naturally hum a few words of that famous song that describe the beauty of the flower.

“Few countries are like Taiwan, which prides itself in the wide variety of native rhododendrons. At the Taipei- Ilan Highway which is 150-m in altitude, there are Rhododendron oldhamii Maxim, and when you climb further up to around 2680m, you can still find some there.”

Interestingly, just as humans put on more clothes at higher altitudes, species such as Rhododendron formosanum also grow more leaves, and it is the only native species that can eventually forms a rhododendron forest. Rhododendron hyperythrum Hayata does not have colorful corollas, but the back of its leaves is covered with golden yellow velvet. During the sunset at Mt. Nanhu, the sun would shine upon the sea of rhododendrons, constituting a breathtaking scenery akin to dazzling gold jewelry.

Rhododendrons of Different Heights

Native rhododendrons can be further divided into endemic and spread species, with the latter suggesting those ones that are widely distributed. Tseng noted that Rhododendron ovatum (in SPNP), Rhododendron ellipticum and Rhododendron simsii Planch (in YMSNP) fall under the category of spread species as they are often seen across Taiwan, Mainland China or other parts of Asia; whereas Rhododendron breviperulatum Hayata, Rhododendron rubropilosum Hayata, Rhododendron rubropilosum Hay. var. rubropilosum, Rhododendron kanehirai , Rhododendron oldhamii Maxim, Rhododendron hyperythrum Hayata, Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum Hayata and Rhododendron formosanum are all endemic species native to Taiwan.

In the chilly early spring, among the withered leaves, rhododendrons in the wild, at campuses, parks and even sidewalks start to bloom into a riot of colors, enchanting passers-by or whoever sees them. "In fact, the most common species of rhododendrons in Taiwan, such as Rhododendron mucronatum, Rhododendron indicum , Rhododendron Bergian Azalea Hybrids and Rhododendron obtusum, are not native species but imported ones as cultivars. If we transport the Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum Hayata , which has been used to the mountain climate, to the sea level, the climate would be a threat to its survival despite the flower's great vitality and rapid hybridization," said Tseng.

• upper：Rhododendron kanehirai Wilson is endemic to Taiwan, but it has become extinct in the wild due to the construction of Fei-Tsui Reservoir. / Photo provided by Yen-hsueh Tseng
• lower left：The picture shows Rhododendron hyperythrum Hayata in Taroko National Park and the back of its leaves is covered with golden yellow velvet. / Photo provided by Yen-hsueh Tseng
• lower right：Rhododendron oldhamii Maxim can be spotted from 150m to 2,700m above sea level, and the population size of it is the largest among all rhododendrons in Taiwan. / Photo provided by Yenhsueh Tseng