[Archive] Rhododendron ponticum as a forest weed

Rhododendron ponticum is an evergreen shrub which forms dense thickets up to 5 metres in height. The large purple blooms appear in spring and are an attractive sight which has become commonplace especially on forested slopes in the west of the British Isles. Foresters are familiar with it as a most intractable weed, indeed control may be so costly that it cannot be justified purely in terms of benefits to wood production. Because of its dense shade, acid litter and toxic foliage, invasion is accompanied by severe impoverishment of the native flora and fauna.

fcbu073

PDF, 0.70 MB

Themes

Pests and diseases

Published

1987

Publication type

Archive publication: Bulletin

Publication owner

Forestry Commission