The genus Rhododendron contains some 850 species native to the northern hemisphere, many of which are widely cultivated. They display a wide range of variability, from dwarf plants suitable for the rock garden to giants which will happily fit only into a large garden or estate, and they possess flowers in almost every color imaginable.

In this volume celebrating these wonderful shrubs, the author has set out to demonstrate the classification of the genus Rhododendron as proposed by the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, using as a medium the beautiful illustrations from the Botanical Magazine. There are 121 plates, representing all of the subgenera, sections, and series within this complex genus. Accompanying each of the superb plates is a new text by Pat Halliday, providing an interesting account of the introduction of the species into cultivation, its history, distribution in the wild, habitat, relationships with other species and its classification.

The Illustrated Rhododendron is compulsive reading for rhododendron enthusiasts, it is an invaluable introduction to their classification, and provides a veritable feast of rhododendron paintings by some of the leading botanical illustrators of the last two centuries.

Pat Halliday was on the staff in the Herbarium at the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, from 1947 to 1990. She has been involved in the study of rhododendrons for many years and carried out all the identification work for Kew. She continues to lend out her identification services today.”