This rhododendron, more tree-shaped than shrub-shaped, has its natural distribution in Thailand, Myanmar, Pakistan, India, Nepal (there it is the national plant of the country) Bhutan, in the south it is even found in Sri Lanka. In Asia it grows up to 19m in age, in our culture it is still up to 12m high with a width of "only" 3m. The rhododendron species is evergreen and has broad, lanceolate leaves in dark to olive green with shiny silvery to rusty brown hairs on the underside of the leaves. The flowering time is comparatively early with March to April. The bell-shaped flowers are usually pink to scarlet in color; white flowering specimens are less common. Rhododendron arboreum needs a sheltered place in partial shade with a humus-rich, well-drained and acidic soil.