RHODODENDRON FERRUGINEUM L. – Alpine-rose

Family: Ericaceae Juss.

Distribution: Mountains of Europe – Pyrenees, Alps, Jura, Northern Apennines, Dinarides. It has been introduced to the Bohemian Massif (Králický Sněžník).
Habitat: It grows on grassy meadows, mountain pastures and stony slopes, in woodland margins, on acid soils, from mountains to alpine altitudinal zone (up to 2840 metres above sea level).
Description: A small and evergreen shrub, 30–120(–150) cm high. The leaves are eliptic, entire, with inrolled margins and rusty scales beneath. The flowers are in clusters of 6–10, bell-shaped corolla is about 1,5 cm long, pinkish-red. Flowers from June to August. The fruit is a capsule.
Threat and Protection: The Alpine-rose is a protected plant in Austria, Italy, Slovenia and Serbia.
Note: This plant (sometimes called Alpenrose or Snow-rose) is moderately toxic, contains several poisonous glycosides.


These images were taken in Italy, Dolomites, Passo di Falzarego (date: 19. 6. 2005).