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Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden

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Botanical garden with the world’s largest collection of Rhododendron species, tropical conservatory, blue poppy meadow, plant shop, stumpery, & more.

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🏆 WE WON SILVER! 🏆

We’re excited to share that the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden has been named the Silver Winner for Best Day Trip in The Seattle Times’ 2026 Best in the PNW!

And we couldn’t have done it without people like you. ❤️ Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote, visit, bring friends and family, share our posts, and spread the word about the Garden.

Now it’s your turn to help us celebrate! Spread the word and come visit this amazing garden. Wander the woodland trails, discover rare and unusual plants, explore the Garden’s collections, and see what’s happening this season.

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who helps make RSBG a special place to visit.
Come curious. Leave inspired.

#RSBG #RhodyGarden #BestInThePNW #BestDayTrip #SeattleDayTrips #FederalWay #BotanicalGarden #Rhododendron #PNW #PacificNorthwest #ExploreWashington #WashingtonGardens by @rhodygarden

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2

a month ago

Something new is coming to the Garden. 🌿📚

This fall, we’re inviting preschool-aged children and their caregivers to join us for Storytime in the Garden, a new five-week nature-focused storytime experience at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.

Each 30-minute session brings together an engaging children’s story with songs, movement, and a simple opportunity to explore and discover nature together. The Garden itself is part of the story.

Wednesdays at 10:30 AM
September 16, 23 & 30
October 7 & 14

Storytime will be held at the Garden Gazebo, with the Rutherford Conservatory available as a weather backup. Both locations are accessible via the ADA path and have space for stroller parking.

Designed for preschool-aged children, approximately ages 2–5, and their caregivers. No registration is required.

The first Storytime on September 16 includes free Garden admission for Storytime families.

Know a family with a little nature explorer? Share this with them.

Read it. Explore it. Discover it.

#StorytimeInTheGarden #RhodyGarden #RhododendronSpeciesBotanicalGarden #NaturePlay #NatureBasedLearning #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ParentMap #PreschoolActivities #FamilyFun #PNWFamilies #FederalWay #TacomaFamilies #SeattleFamilies #ExploreNature by @rhodygarden

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1

2 months ago

🌿 Take a moment to wander with us.

From quiet woodland paths to the lush Rutherford Conservatory, every season offers something new to discover at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.

Whether you're visiting for the first time or returning to a favorite place, we hope you'll slow down, explore, and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you.

See you in the Garden.

📍 Federal Way, Washington
🕙 Open Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM

#RhodyGarden #BotanicalGarden #FederalWay #PacificNorthwest #GardenPaths #PlantConservation #Rhododendron #NatureLovers #ExploreWashington #VisitTheGarden #pnwgardens taken in Federal Way, Washington by @rhodygarden

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1

2 months ago

Four Special Plants to Discover in the Fall Plant Catalog

Looking for something distinctive for your garden? From woodland perennials with dramatic foliage to fragrant rhododendrons, these four selections offer something special for plant lovers.

🌸 ** Paeonia mairei | $14 | Small Band**

This choice herbaceous peony features deep rose-pink flowers up to five inches across, accented by a bright golden center of stamens. Its glossy, deep green foliage has beautifully impressed veins. Unlike many peonies, this species performs best in shade, making it a wonderful choice for a woodland garden.

🤍 ** Rhododendron ‘Cowbell’ | $19 | Small Band**

This lovely edgeworthii hybrid produces masses of highly fragrant white flowers flushed with pink in mid-spring. Attractive dark green leaves with prominent veining add to its appeal. In colder climates, it performs best in a container. This is our first offering of this special plant!
🌿 ** Podophyllum aurantiocaule **

A stunning Asian Mayapple with large, leathery, glossy green leaves that resemble little umbrellas. Its hanging white flowers are followed by large, fleshy, bright red fruits. Plant it in shade with rich, moist soil for especially lush foliage.

💛 ** Rhododendron luteum ‘Golden Comet’ | $25 | 1 Gallon**

An RSBG selection chosen for its outstanding qualities, ‘Golden Comet’ produces large, deep yellow, highly fragrant flowers in mid-spring, followed by bright red fall foliage. Easy to grow in sun or light shade, it tolerates both cold and heat and is resistant to powdery mildew.

Find your next garden favorite! The RSBG Fall Plant Catalog is open for orders through October 28. Explore the selection and bring something extraordinary to your garden.

Shop the catalog: https://shop.rhodygarden.org/

#RSBG #RhodyGarden #FallPlantCatalog #RarePlants #WoodlandGarden #Rhododendron #GardenInspiration by @rhodygarden

10

1

an hour ago

A little glimpse into the Plant Expedition in Japan happening right now! 🇯🇵🍂

Fall color is spreading across the mountains around Mt. Ishizuchi, Japan’s highest peak on Shikoku Island. From sweeping mountainsides painted in autumn hues to the smaller botanical treasures tucked along the trail, every step offers something worth stopping for.

Here, Steve Hootman takes a moment with Rhododendron pentaphyllum, a beautiful species encountered along the journey. These are the kinds of discoveries that make plant expeditions so special: seeing plants in their native habitats and experiencing the landscapes they call home.

The expedition is still underway, and we’re looking forward to sharing more glimpses from the field!

#RSBG #RhodyGarden #PlantExpedition #Japan #MtIshizuchi #Rhododendron #RhododendronPentaphyllum #BotanicalExploration #PlantConservation by @rhodygarden

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1

a day ago

Fall color isn't just about the big, fiery displays. 🍂

Look a little closer and you'll find golden leaves glowing overhead, deep reds and purples, delicate lavender flowers, and tiny raindrops catching the light. Even the whirling helicopter seeds of Japanese maples have a beauty of their own.

One of the things I love about fall at the Garden is how much there is to discover, from the dramatic colors of the Japanese maples to the quieter details you might miss if you're moving too quickly.

And the colors keep changing! Every visit offers something a little different.

Come enjoy the season with us at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.

Our Fall Foliage Festival & Plant Sale is November 7–8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free admission. But don't wait until then to visit. There's always something worth seeing.

Learn more: https://rhodygarden.org/events/fall-foliage-festival/

#RhodyGarden #FallFoliage #LeafPeeping #AutumnColors #PublicGarden #Rhododendron #autumnatthegarden by @rhodygarden

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2 days ago

November Webinar: Hybridizing for the Red Maximum Effect 🌺

What happens when you spend more than 25 years crossing Rhododendron maximum with other species and hybrids in search of one intriguing trait?

Join us November 19 at 5 p.m. PST for a fascinating presentation with Joe Bruso, hybridizer, propagator, and grower of rhododendron species and hybrids.

Joe will share the results of more than two decades of hybridizing with a R. maximum seedling known as “maximum RP,” which originated from an RSBG accession and exhibits unusual marbling and red pigment in its leaves and flowers.

Known as the “Red Max Effect,” this unusual pigmentation can appear in flowers, foliage, stems, sap, and other parts of the plant. Joe will explore what he has observed through hundreds of crosses, including why the trait appears in some seedlings but not others and how its expression can vary.

One especially interesting cross, maximum RP × Rhododendron elegantulum, produced the Red Max Effect in all seven plants Joe retained through flowering, with results ranging from predominantly red trusses to combinations of red, bicolor, and pink flowers.

Whether you're interested in rhododendron hybridizing, propagation, unusual forms of R. maximum, or distinctive flowers and foliage, this webinar offers a fascinating look at more than two decades of experimentation.

📅 November 19, 2026
⏰ 5–6 p.m. PST
💻 Zoom
🌿 Members: $15 + tax | Non-members: $25 + tax

Registration required. Link in bio.

#RSBG #RhodyGarden #Rhododendron #RhododendronSpecies #RhododendronHybridizing #RhododendronHybridizer #PlantBreeding #PlantPropagation #RhododendronMaximum #RedMaximum #RedMaxEffect #Hybridizing #RhododendronLovers #PlantLovers #BotanicalGarden #BotanicalGardens #Horticulture #HorticultureEducation #GardenEducation #PlantScience #GardeningWebinar #HorticultureWebinar #PNWGardening #PacificNorthwest #AmericanRhododendronSociety by @rhodygarden

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0

3 days ago

Featured Plants from the Fall Plant Catalog

Looking for something special for your garden? Our Fall Plant Catalog features a wonderful selection of unusual species and botanical treasures, from striking foliage to beautiful blooms.

🌿 Hydrangea radiata offers distinctive leaves with silvery-white undersides that create a beautiful contrast against the deep green upper surfaces.

🌸 Magnolia obovata brings bold, broad foliage and an elegant, fragrant flower to the garden.

🌺 Rhododendron racemosum ‘Rock Rose’ features clusters of delicate pink flowers that create a soft, colorful display.

🤍 Rhododendron serotinum showcases large, white flowers against deep green foliage.

There's still time to find something special for your garden! The RSBG Fall Plant Catalog is open for orders through October 28. Explore the selection and place your order before the catalog closes.

Browse the catalog and order online: https://rhodygarden.org/

#RhodyGarden #FallPlantCatalog #PlantCollectors #Rhododendrons #Magnolia #Hydrangea #RarePlants #GardenInspiration by @rhodygarden

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2

4 days ago

Leaf peeping 🍁👀 season is here.

The Amelanchier, Pseudolarix, and Acers around the meadow have begun their first wave of fall color. The rare, red list beauty, Disanthus cercidifolius is at absolute peak. The first round of species Rhododendrons including vaseyi and schlippenbachii (the former found in Eastern North America and the latter in parts of Korea, Japan, and Asia) are on 🔥.

The fall color in the garden comes in successive waves and I am always amazed that if you’re not around to see it, you really miss something spectacular.

Don’t worry, we typically have a late wave of color at the end of October/early November for Fall Foliage Festival, but that doesn’t mean you should wait to visit! See you soon.

#fallvibes #fall #leafpeeping #publicgarden #rhododendron taken in Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden by @rhodygarden

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6

5 days ago

Storytime at the Garden is here to stay! 🌿📚

What started as a pilot this fall was such a success that we’re making Storytime at the Garden a permanent weekly program!

Join us every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. for a 30-minute nature-focused storytime designed for preschoolers ages 2–5 and their parents or caregivers.

We’ll gather in the Garden Gazebo when the weather is nice, with the Rutherford Conservatory as our cold weather and rainy-day backup. Both locations are accessible via the ADA path, and there’s space for stroller parking.

Each week, we’ll share a children’s story and connect it to the natural world around us with a simple, age-appropriate nature activity or exploration.

🌱 Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
📚 Ages 2–5
👩‍👩‍👧 Parent or caregiver must accompany children
🌧️ Gazebo, weather permitting; Rutherford Conservatory in cold or rainy weather
🎟️ No registration required
💚 Always free for families

Come for the story. Stay for a little garden exploring.

📍 Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
2525 S 336th St., Federal Way, WA

#StorytimeAtTheGarden #RSBG #RhodyGarden #FederalWayWA #FederalWayKids #FederalWayFamilies #SouthKingCounty #SouthSound #SouthSoundKids #SouthSoundFamilies #PNWKids #PNWFamily #PNWKidsActivities #SeattleKids #SeattleFamilies #SeattleKidsEvents #TacomaKids #TacomaFamilies #KidsEvents #KidsActivities #KidsStorytime #Storytime #LibraryStorytime #FamilyStorytime #PreschoolActivities #NatureForKids #ParentMap #ParentMapSeattle #SeattleParents #WashingtonFamilies by @rhodygarden

7

0

5 days ago

DID YOU KNOW? 🌿 Follow the hairs: three rhododendrons, three different textures

Look closely at these three rhododendrons from the Garden. All three have hairy leaves and stems, but the structures creating that hairiness can be surprisingly different.

🔬 First, a little terminology. Trichome is the general botanical term for a hair-like structure on a plant. Indumentum describes a covering of hairs, while setae describes particular stiff, bristle-like hairs.

🌿 1. Rhododendron glischrum subsp. rude

Look at those prominent bristles! This subspecies has persistent setae on both surfaces of its leaves. Young stems and leaf stalks can also have prominent glandular bristles.

🍃 2. Rhododendron adenosum

Here, the texture is more complex. The lower leaf surface can have stalked glands and bristles, or a dense, matted indumentum made up of branching, or ramiform, hairs. The result is very different from the stiff bristles of R. glischrum subsp. rude.

🧡 3. Rhododendron edgeworthii

This species is famous for its dense, tawny indumentum. The hairs form a thick, woolly covering on the undersides of the leaves, giving them a soft, almost felt-like appearance.

🔎 So what's the common thread?

All three have specialized hair-like structures, but those structures aren't all the same. They can be stiff or soft, simple or branching, glandular or non-glandular, and sparse or densely packed into an indumentum.

These differences can provide useful clues for distinguishing Rhododendron species and may also help protect leaves from environmental stresses and herbivores.

There's a taxonomic connection, too. R. glischrum subsp. rude and R. adenosum belong to subsection Glischra, while R. edgeworthii belongs to Edgeworthia.

Three rhododendrons. Three different expressions of hairiness. One remarkably diverse genus.

Next time you're at the Garden, take a closer look. Sometimes the smallest details tell the most interesting stories.

#RSBG #RhodyGarden #Rhododendron #RhododendronSpecies #DidYouKnow #Botany #PlantScience #Trichomes #Indumentum #PlantMorphology #PlantAdaptations #BotanicalGarden #PlantLovers #PNWGardening #PacificNorthwest by @rhodygarden

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3

6 days ago

🍁 Save the Date: Fall Foliage Festival & Plant Sale! 🌿

Join us November 7–8 at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden for a weekend celebrating autumn, specialty plants, art, and handmade goods.

Wander through 22 acres of woodland paths and experience the changing colors of fall throughout the Garden. Shop for unusual plants and collector favorites from specialty growers, browse nature-inspired art and handcrafted goods, and enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest in autumn.

🌱 Shop specialty plants from The Green Gargoyle, Wanderlust Nursery, Celestial Dream Gardens, and the Hardy Fern Foundation.

🎨 Discover art and handmade goods, including photography, pottery, jewelry, handcrafted birdhouses, and more.

🍂 Enjoy fall activities for all ages, including guided tours highlighting the Garden’s autumn colors, a children’s scavenger hunt, and a special children’s storytime.

🍴 Grab a bite to eat from our food trucks and enjoy refreshments and treats during your visit.

Best of all, admission is FREE!

📅 November 7–8, 2026
⏰ 10 a.m.–4 p.m. both days
📍 Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
2525 S. 336th St., Federal Way, WA

Make plans to join us! Mark your calendar, invite a friend, and bring the family for a fall weekend filled with garden discoveries, specialty plants, local makers, and seasonal color.

🍁 Share this post with someone who would love a day at the Garden, and plan your visit for November 7 or 8!

We look forward to celebrating the season with you.

#RSBG #RhodyGarden #FallFoliageFestival #PlantSale #PNWFall #ExperienceWA #VisitFederalWay #ExploreWashington #PacificNorthwest #BotanicalGarden #PlantLovers #FallInWashington #southsoundmagazine #SeattleFall #PNWGarden #PNWFamily #PNWLife #WashingtonExplored by @rhodygarden

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7 days ago