Sir William Jackson Hooker, a well-known botanist who became the first director of Kew Gardens, once said, "Perhaps with the exception of the rose, the queen of flowers, no plants have excited more interest throughout Europe than the several species of the genus Rhododendron."

Derived from Ancient Greek words, the term "rhododendron" means "red tree," referring the red flowers and woody stems, however, the flowers bloom in a variety of colors such as red, pink, orange, yellow and purple.

As rhododendrons exhibit a huge diversity of size and shape, the plant has been wildly cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens. According to the International Rhododendron Registry, there are over 28,000 cultivars of Rhododendron. 

But the wide variety does not stop people pursuing the wild native species.

The genus Rhododendron has more than 1,000 species, and about 70 percent of them are listed as vulnerable, threatened, endangered or critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

China has the largest variety of Rhododendron, with about 570 species present in the country, over 400 of which are endemic. The wild plants can be found in all China's provinces and regions except the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The flowers of rhododendrons, including those of its popular sub-genera azaleas, were fancied by many Chinese poets. Yang Wanli from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) once wrote that there's no need to visit posh gardens to enjoy spring, the azaleas in the mountains won't let you down. Another poet Bai Juyi from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) described flowering rhododendrons as beautiful as Xi Shi, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China.

Southwest China has the greatest species diversity of the Rhododendron. Baili Azalea National Forest Park in Bijie City, northwest Guizhou Province, is a natural vast forest with over 40 species of Rhododendron. Every year from March to May, a sea of flowers covers the mountains, attracting tourists from around the country to enjoy both the flowers, as well as the ethnic culture of Yi people who have lived there for centuries.

Another spot to enjoy the stunning rhododendrons are the Hengduan Mountains in southwest China's Yunnan Province. As a biodiversity hotspot, many unique species can be found here, such as the giant tree rhododendron, a critical endangered species and the largest rhododendron in the world.

About 'China in Bloom':

Flowering is not just about plants. It's also about how people approach their lives. Today, it has become a popular outdoor activity across China. In some places, flower-gazing has become a tourist activity and, thus, an economic driver. As the Two Sessions, the most important event on China's political calendar, is currently underway, CGTN Nature presents a new series, "China in Bloom," to showcase the beauty of the country in spring by introducing some of the most popular flowers in the country as well as the stories of how flowers contribute to people's lives.

For more:

China in Bloom: Discover plum blossoms in spring

China in Bloom: The Yulan Magnolia as an envoy of spring

China in Bloom: Discover camellia- the triumphant flower

China in Bloom: A symbol of love and well-being, a sign of spring

'China in Bloom': Enjoy snow-white pear blossoms in spring

'China in Bloom': Cherry blossoms

'China in Bloom': What are haitang flowers?

China in Bloom: Apricot blossoms sweeten the spring air

(Cover image designed by CGTN's Liu Shaozhen)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)