Winter in the Rhododendron Species Garden, Part 2

The Rhododendron genus is incredibly diverse - as evidenced by the numerous specimens growing inside the three year-old conservatory at the Rhododendron Species Garden.  A meticulously controlled high-altitude tropical climate enables the cultivation of dozens of rhododendrons in the vireya subgenus that would not survive our Pacific Northwest winters.  Prayer flags stretch over the entrance making for an nice homage to the place where many of the plants growing inside were originally collected.

Entering the conservatory, I was fully captivated by hundreds of new species I had never seen before.  It also wasn't very warm either with the temperature set at perhaps 50 degrees F (10C).
 

The first thing to catch my eye (no surprise here) was a hardy-looking schefflera growing in a pot off to the right.  This could very well be Schefflera alpina but not entirely sure.

Schefflera alpina?

This next sight really blew me away.  Why do all the really cool plants have to be tropical?

Rhododendron tuba

On the other side of the path grow two very different rhododendrons side-by-side: one with golden metallic new growth (I'm not sure of the name of this one) and Rhododendron stenophyllum with glossy red-orange flowers that have a very appealing fake look.

Rhododendron stenophyllum on the left and a mystery rhododendron on the right

Up a little closer:

Rhododendron stenophyllum

Now this rhododenron is definitely good enough for me.  At least it would be if I could buy it.

Rhododendron goodenoughii

A nameless begonia.

 

I'm just throwing this in.  I have no idea what it is.

Schefflera macrophylla is unfortunately not quite hardy enough to grow outside reliably in the Pacific Northwest, but it is definitely on the borderline and when I eventually get my hands on I will most definitely be experimenting with it.

Schefflera macrophylla

  The conservatory comes complete with a river and a bridge over it.

 Try to guess which genus this plant is from: (hint: it's in the same family as rhododendron)
 

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Answer: If you guessed the blueberry family (Vaccinium), you're right!  Vaccinium kachinense is its name.  I'll save you the effort of scrolling back up and post it one more time:

Vaccinium kachinense

And finally, Rhododendron himantodes really bears little resemblence to any other rhododendron I'm familiar with.  Its flower buds are like minature magnolia seed pods.  I actually wouldn't mind if it didn't bloom and just stayed like that the whole time!

Rhododendron himantodes

I will be doing one more installment on the Rhododendron Species Garden soon showing off a few great plants that got to come home with me.