Oki Rhododendron

The Oki rhododendron is an evergreen shrub (a tree under 3 m tall with green leaves throughout the year), which grows naturally in mountainous areas. It is a variant of the Tsukushi rhododendron (Rhododendron japonoheptamerum) and grows on Dōgo Island. Planted in areas such as shrines and parks, it is a familiar plant to the island's residents. Its leaves have a thick, leathery texture and an oblong shape, while its funnel-shaped flowers range from a reddish-purple to a light pink color, with speckles of darker color on their upper inner surface.
In the Goka area of Dōgo Island, the Murakami-ke Oki Rhododendron Park is home to approximately 10,000 Oki rhododendrons. They bloom beautifully across the park during the Golden Week holidays in May.