Herb latin name: Rhododendron campanulatum


Family: Ericaceae (Heath Family)



Medicinal use of Rhododendron campanulatum:

The leaves are mixed with tobacco and used as a snuff in the treatment of colds and headaches that affect only one side of the head. The juice of the leaves is also used in the treatment of chronic rheumatism, sciatica and syphilis. The dried twigs and wood are used in the treatment of phthisis and chronic fevers.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Evergreen
Shrub

Height:
4.5 m
(15 feet)

Flowering:
April
to May

Habitat of the herb:

Found on open slopes in the alpine zone at elevations between 2,800 and 4,400 metres. Rhododendron thickets on mountain slopes.

Other uses of Rhododendron campanulatum:

An excellent fuel wood is obtained from this plant.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn and given artificial light. Alternatively sow the seed in a lightly shaded part of the warm greenhouse in late winter or in a cold greenhouse in April. Surface-sow the seed and do not allow the compost to become dry. Pot up the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a greenhouse for at least the first winter. Layering in late July. Takes 15 - 24 months. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, August in a frame. Difficult.

Cultivation of Rhododendron campanulatum:

Found on open slopes in the alpine zone at elevations between 2,800 and 4,400 metres. Rhododendron thickets on mountain slopes.

Known hazards of Rhododendron campanulatum:

The leaves are considered to be poisonous. The flowers of many species can cause intoxication in large quantities.

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.