{"product_id":"rhododendron-fortunei-ssp-fortunei-copy","title":"Rhododendron fortunei ssp. fortunei  (“Round-Leaf Form”)","description":"\u003cp\u003e These are seedlings grown from a hand-pollination here at the RSBG utilizing what we are currently calling R. \u003cem\u003efortunei\u003c\/em\u003e (round-leaf form). The parent plants were grown from seed of \u003cem\u003e“orbiculare\u003c\/em\u003e ssp. \u003cem\u003ecardiobasis”\u003c\/em\u003e collected wild by Alan Clark in NE Guangxi and they do look very much like what one would expect – rounded leaves with a strongly cordate leaf base - very similar to the leaves of \u003cem\u003eorbiculare.\u003c\/em\u003e However, once the original seedlings flowered, we realized they were actually more closely related to the widespread and variable \u003cem\u003eR. fortunei\u003c\/em\u003e with large and upright trusses of very openly campanulate and fragrant white to pink flowers in late spring (vs. the pendulous, non-fragrant bells of \u003cem\u003eorbiculare\u003c\/em\u003e in mid-spring). The habit of this new collection was also much more upright and tree-like (as in \u003cem\u003efortunei)\u003c\/em\u003e vs. a dense rounded shrub (as in \u003cem\u003eorbiculare).\u003c\/em\u003e So – these are basically large and vigorous, upright evergreen shrubs with round, very \u003cem\u003e“orbiculare”\u003c\/em\u003e-like foliage and showy fragrant flowers in late spring to early summer. The parent plants are simply stunning. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden","offers":[{"title":"Small Band","offer_id":42893584171075,"sku":null,"price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0655\/3865\/4275\/files\/050-P1120747.jpg?v=1767815513","url":"https:\/\/shop.rhodygarden.org\/products\/rhododendron-fortunei-ssp-fortunei-copy","provider":"Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden","version":"1.0","type":"link"}