A spectacular blossoming plant however few people understand the true damage that this non-native species is causing to the ecosystem and in particular to native plant communities. Rhododendron can grow to 3-5 metres in height in ideal conditions, forming a dense canopy that significantly restricts light penetration to the ground.
Rhododendron was introduced to the UK in the late 18th century as an ornamental plant, and is still commonly used in gardens across Britain. It thrives in milder, wet climates and in poor soils with low pH, typical of the UK and especially Scotland.
Rhododendron can dominate large areas of land with its canopy absorbing the majority of available sunlight, then as the intertwined branches touch the soil they can strike root producing another stronghold for the plant to continue to spread. Also, each flower can produce between 3,000 and 7,000 wind dispersed seeds.
Rhododendron will form a near-impenetrable barrier to the ground, dominating any competing native species and damaging ecosystems, the area underneath the plant will be mainly bare. Rhododendron can cover entire riverbanks, reducing the population of invertebrates inhabiting the area. This can have a knock-on effect as many fish such as trout rely on such insects falling into the water.