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Rhododendron specimen in the University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Rhododendron molle

In its own language: 羊踯躅

A yellow-flowered deciduous azalea from China and Japan

Photo: Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rhododendron molle is a deciduous shrub with yellow flowers marked by dark red flecks. Native to China and Japan, it grows from sea level up to 2500 meters and is the wild parent of many yellow-flowered azalea hybrids.

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  • Native to China and Japan from sea level up to 2500 meters
  • Yellow flowers with dark red flecks
  • Deciduous shrub growing 50–200 cm tall
  • Parent of many yellow-flowered azalea hybrids

What does Rhododendron molle look like?

Rhododendron molle is a medium-sized deciduous shrub, reaching between 50 and 200 centimeters in height. Its leaves are shaped between oblong and lance-like, measuring 5 to 11 centimeters long and 1.5 to 3.5 centimeters wide. The plant produces yellow flowers that are marked with dark red flecks, giving them a distinctive appearance among azaleas.

Where does Rhododendron molle come from?

This species is native to China and Japan, where it can be found growing in the wild from sea level up to 2500 meters in elevation. It is part of the larger Rhododendron genus and is known locally in Chinese as 羊踯躅. Although not commonly grown in gardens, it has played an important role as a parent plant for many cultivated azaleas with yellow flowers.

When and how Rhododendron molle blooms

Rhododendron molle blooms naturally in its native habitats, thriving in a range of elevations and likely preferring well-drained soils. The plant is usually propagated from seed or cuttings, but it is rarely seen in cultivation outside its native range. Its wild populations contribute genetic material to garden hybrids.

Rhododendron molle , cultivated. United States National Arboretum, Washington, DC, USA. 24 April 2010.
Rhododendron molle , cultivated. United States National Arboretum, Washington, DC, USA. 24 April 2010.. Photo: Katja Schulz, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Chinese Azalea , wood
Chinese Azalea , wood. Photo: Jean-Pierre Chéreau & Roger Culos, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How Rhododendron molle is used

While Rhododendron molle is not widely grown as an ornamental shrub, it is valued by plant breeders as the source of yellow-flowered traits in many hybrid azaleas. In the wild, it forms part of the natural shrub layer in forests and hillsides of China and Japan.

Kinds of Rhododendron molle

This species is best known for its role as a parent of numerous yellow-flowered azalea hybrids. The wild form is distinct for its yellow blooms with red markings, but cultivated varieties derived from it may show a range of yellow shades and flower forms.

What Rhododendron molle means

Rhododendron molle does not have widely recorded symbolic or cultural uses, but its genetic contribution to garden azaleas is significant. Its presence in the wild in China and Japan adds to the botanical diversity of these regions.

Where Rhododendron molle is used and seen

Parc Floral de la SourceA large public garden in Orléans built around the source of the Loiret riverKórnik ArboretumPoland’s oldest and largest collection of trees and shrubs, near Kórnik CastleAbkhazi GardenA one-acre garden in Victoria, British Columbia, created by Prince and Princess AbkhaziHolden ArboretumA vast botanical garden and arboretum in Kirtland, OhioRoan MountainA high Appalachian massif known for rhododendrons and grassy summitsPowell GardensA 970-acre botanical garden near Kansas City, MissouriDandenong Ranges Botanic GardenA cool-climate garden in the hills near Melbourne, famous for rhododendrons and cherry blossomParc floral de ParisA botanical garden and flower park in the Bois de Vincennes, Paris

Questions people ask about Rhododendron molle

Where does Rhododendron molle come from?

Rhododendron molle is native to China and Japan, where it grows in the wild from lowlands up to 2500 meters elevation.

What does Rhododendron molle look like?

It is a deciduous shrub with oblong leaves and yellow flowers marked with dark red flecks. The plant grows between 50 and 200 centimeters tall.

Is Rhododendron molle grown in gardens?

It is not often seen in cultivation, but it is important as a parent of many yellow-flowered azalea hybrids.

What is Rhododendron molle used for?

Its main use is as a parent species in breeding yellow-flowered azalea hybrids. It is not widely used for decoration or in gardens.

Does Rhododendron molle have any special meaning?

There are no widely recorded symbolic or cultural meanings for this species in the sources.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Rhododendron molle", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

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The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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