Rh. ferrugineum is a very beautiful, native wild rhododendron for rock gardens in not too sunny locations. The wild species is native to the Alps on primary rock at an altitude of 1500-2000 m. It prefers moist, humus-rich, acidic soil in a location that is not too sunny and blooms there just as abundantly as in the Alps. The flowers appear in mid-June in terminal, loose clusters of 6-12 tubular, dark purple individual flowers. The leaves are elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, 3-5 cm long and 1-1.5 cm wide. They are dark green above, while the underside is densely covered in rusty brown scales. Rh. ferrugineum is evergreen and extremely hardy. The height after 10 years is approx. 50 cm, the width is 60 cm. In later years it grows up to 100 cm high and 120 cm wide.
