‘MengWa’: A New Rhododendron Cultivar

Rhododendron, a genus within the family Ericaceae, encompasses a vast number of species with a long history of cultivation. Renowned for their brilliant flower colors and diverse flower forms, they are widely used in potted plant and nursery stock production (Qiu et al. 2021; Yang et al. 2020). The subgenus Tsutsusi contains numerous species. Based on morphological characteristics, flowering period, parentage, and origin, they can be classified into several groups, among which the hairy azalea group is an important type (Zhou et al. 2013). This group primarily includes Rhododendron × pulchrum and Rhododendron mucronatum, as well as their varieties, hybrids, and derived cultivars. This group exhibits strong adaptability, is suitable for open-field cultivation, and also serves as an excellent rootstock for grafting other Rhododendron groups (Liu et al. 2025). The Belgian azalea (Rhododendron hybridum), also known as the Occidental Azalea, was initially bred successfully in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands and Belgium. Its parentage mainly includes R. mucronatum, Rhododendron indicum, and Rhododendron simsii (Li et al. 2019). Belgian azaleas are characterized by their low, compact growth habit, their rich diversity in flower color and form, and their relatively long flowering period; thus they possess high ornamental and economic value (Jia et al. 2023).