Rhododendrons, Camellias, Primroses & Allies - Ericales
Native / Non-native
Chinese Gooseberries & Kiwifruits - Actinidiaceae
Rice-Flower Tree - Saurauia tristyla Balsams - Balsaminacaceae Chinese Snapweed - Impatiens chinensis Hong Kong Balsam - Impatiens hongkongensis African Balsam - Impatiens walleriana Persimmons - Ebenaceae Woolly-Flowered Persimmon - Diospyros eriantha Persimmon - Diospyros kaki Morris's Persimmon - Diospyros morrisiana Small Persimmon - Diospyros vaccinioides Heathers - Ericaceae Chinese New Year Flower - Enkianthus quinqueflorus Champion's Rhododendron - Rhododendron championae Mrs. Farrer's Rhododendron - Rhododendron farrerae Hong Kong Azalea - Rhododendron hongkongense Moulmain Azalea - Rhododendron moulmainense White Azalea - Rhododendron mucronatum Lovely Azalea - Rhododendron pulchrum Purple Azalea - Rhododendron pulchrum var. phoeniceum South China Rhododendron - Rhododendron simiarum Red Azalea - Rhododendron simsii |
Euryas - Pentaphylacaceae
Golden-Dotted Eurya - Eurya loquaiana Black Eurya - Eurya macartneyi Shining Eurya - Eurya nitida Common Pentaphylax - Pentaphylax euryoides Naked-Anther Ternstroemia - Ternstroemia gymnanthera White-Flowered Ternstroemia - Ternstroemia luteoflora Primroses - Primulaceae River Mangrove - Aegiceras corniculatum Hilo Holly - Ardisia crenata Big-Leaved Ardisia - Ardisia gigantifolia Hance's Ardisia - Ardisia hanceana Spotted Ardisia - Ardisia lindleyana Tiger-Tongue Ardisia - Ardisia mamillata Primrose-Leaved Ardisia - Ardisia primulifolia Asiatic Ardisia - Ardisia quinquegona Twig-Hanging Embelia - Embelia laeta White-Flowered Embelia - Embelia ribes Hong Kong Primrose - Lysimachia alpestris Japanese Maesa - Maesa japonica Pearly Maesa - Maesa perlaria Rapanea - Myrsine seguinii Sapodillas - Sapotaceae Sapodilla - Manilkara zapota Iron Olive - Sideroxylon wightianum |
Snowbells - Styracaceae
Kwangtung Rehderodendron - Rehderodendron kwantungense Fragrant Snowbell - Styrax odoratissimus Cork-Leaved Snowbell - Styrax suberifolius Symplocos Family - Symplocaceae Laurel Sweetleaf - Symplocos cochinchinensis var. laurina Dense-Flowered Sweetleaf - Symplocos congesta Glaucous Sweetleaf - Symplocos glauca Smooth-Leaved Sweetleaf - Symplocos lancifolia Thick-Leaved Sweetleaf - Symplocos lucida Sapphire-Berry Sweetleaf - Symplocos paniculata Mountain Sweetleaf - Symplocos sumuntia Camellias - Theaceae Rhododendron-Leaved Camellia - Camellia azalea Tail-Leaved Camellia - Camellia caudata Golden Camellia - Camellia chrysantha Crapnell's Camellia - Camellia crapnelliana Grantham's Camellia - Camellia granthamiana Hong Kong Camellia - Camellia hongkongensis Japanese Camellia - Camellia japonica Caduous-Petal Camellia - Camellia kissii Tea - Camellia sinensis Walden Tea - Camellia sinensis var. waldenae Gordonia - Polyspora axillaris Schima - Schima superba |
Chinese Gooseberries - Actinidiaceae
Rice-Flower Tree 米花樹 Saurauia tristyla
Balsams - Balsaminacaceae
Chinese Snapweed 華鳳仙 Impatiens chinensis
Hong Kong Impatiens 香港鳳仙 Impatiens hongkongensis
Busy Lizzie / African Balsam 非洲鳳仙 Impatiens walleriana
Persimmons - Ebenaceae
Woolly-Flowered Persimmon 烏柿 Diospyros eriantha
Japanese Persimmon 柿 Diospyros kaki
Morris's Persimmon 羅浮柿 Diospyros morrisiana
Small Persimmon 小果柿 Diospyros vaccinioides
Heathers - Ericaceae
Chinese New Year Flower 吊鐘花 Enkianthus quinqueflorus
Common on hillsides in the New Territories the pink, bell-like flowers appear in February, hence the common name. After over-picking in the past it is now a protected plant. It is a large shrub or a small tree. It is native to Hong Kong.
Champion's Rhododendron 毛葉杜鵑 Rhododendron championiae
Distinguished by its hairy leaves, this is a wild species of rhododendron. In the wild it seems to be mainly restricted to north-west Lantau, near Tai O. There are some cultivated specimens on the Ma On Shan Family Walk and also in the Shing Mun Arboretum. I've also seen a wild one near Ngau Ngak Shan in Ma On Shan CP.
Mrs. Farrer's Rhododendron 華麗杜鵑 Rhododendron farrerae
A fairly common species of wild rhododendron found above 400-500m in altitude, notably on Buffalo Hill (Ma On Shan), Lin Fa Shan (Lantau) and Wong Leng (Pat Sin Leng) but can actually be found in most mountainous areas above the tree line. It can start blooming in December, but reaches full profusion in the wet dampness of March. By April it will be over and he plants unfurl lime green furry leaves. It blooms when no leaves are present, which distinguishes it from the other rhododendron species in Hong Kong. The flowers are ice pink and more delicate than Rhododendron simsii, which is also very common but tolerates lower altitudes.
Hong Kong Azalea 香港杜鵑 Rhododendron hongkongense
The native Hong Kong azalea has white to light-pink flowers and is found in the wild in Ma On Shan Country Park. It was identified as a new species in 1930. The new leaves that appear in the spring are pink. Flowering in March and April. Spindly in growth and quite tall, reaching up to the canopy in forests around 300-500m in altitude.
Moulmain Rhododendron 羊角杜鵑 Rhododendron moulmainense
Presumably named after the Burmese port of Moulmain (modern spelling: Mawlamyine) this rhododendron is native to Hong Kong. The flowers can range from light purple to white. When white, the flower resembles Champion's rhododendron, but Moulmain rhododendron has smooth leaves. The largest rhododendron species in Hong Kong, the trees can be quite tall and robust. Flowering in March.
White Azalea 白杜鵑 Rhododendron mucronatum
A park species of rhododendron, fairly common in the city's parks.
Lovely Azalea 錦繡杜鵑 Rhododendron pulchrum
This is a common type of ornamentally grown azalea in Hong Kong. Very common in Hong Kong's urban parks, but not growing wild in the countryside.
Purple Azalea 紫杜鵑花 Rhododendron pulchrum var. phoeniceum
A park species of rhododendron that is widely planted in the city.
South China Rhododendron 南華杜鵑 Rhododendron simiarum
Present at around 500m altitude on Ma On Shan. Blooming in April-May. The only wild rhododendron species to bear a cluster of flowers. The flower colour is white, with pink undersides to the petals.
Red Azalea 紅杜鵑 Rhododendron simsii
The red azalea is a common plant on Hong Kong hillsides. The most common type of azalea found in the countryside growing wild. It's also used for ornamental purposes in the city's parks. It can be found at most altitudes. Robin's Nest in the northern New Territories is a good place to see it, Flowering in March-April.
Euryas - Pentaphylacaceae
Golden-Dotted Eurya 細枝柃 Eurya loquaiana
Black Eurya 黑柃 Eurya macartneyi
Shining Eurya 細齒葉柃 Eurya nitida
Common Pentaphylax 五列木 Pentaphylax euryoides
Naked-Anther Ternstroemia 厚皮香 Ternstroemia gymnanthera
White-Flowered Ternstroemia 尖萼厚皮香 Ternstroemia luteoflora
Primulas - Primulaceae
River Mangrove 蠟燭果 Aegiceras corniculatum
Also known as 'black mangrove' - this is one of eight species of mangrove tree present in Hong Kong.
Hilo Holly 朱砂根 Ardisia crenata
Hilo Holly is a native shrub to Hong Kong with simple, shiny leaves. It has small, white flowers in June and bright red berries in the winter. This shrub is cultivated and sold widely during Chinese New Year. Distinguished from other ardisia species principally by its crinkly leaf edges.
Hance's Ardisia 郎傘樹 Ardisia hanceana
Big-Leaved Ardisia 走馬胎 Ardisia gigantifolia
Spotted Ardisia 山血丹 Ardisia lindleyana
This native ardisia species is quite common in woodland. Its spotted flowers appear in midsummer. The leaves are longer and thinner than Ardisia crenata's.
Tiger Tongue Ardisia 虎舌紅 Ardisia mamillata
Primrose-Leaved Ardisia 蓮座紫金牛 Ardisia primulifolia
Asiatic Ardisia 羅傘樹 Ardisia quinquegona
White flowers appear on this ardisia in the early summer. Black-coloured berries follow. It is a large shrub or small tree, unlike a. crenata and a. lindleyana, which are small shrubs.
Twig-Hanging Embelia 酸藤子 Embelia laeta
White-Flowered Embelia 白花酸藤子 Embelia ribes
Known as 'Vidanga' in South Asia, traditionally used in Ayurveda to treat tapeworms and hookworms. In Java the plant is used as a vegetable; the leaves and fruits are cooked and eaten. A large shrub with shiny, lance-like leaves. Flowers, greenish-yellow. Fruit, globose, black when ripe with persistent style attached. They look wrinkled and warty when dried.
Hong Kong Primrose 香港過路黃 Lysimachia alpestris
Japanese Maesa 杜莖山 Maesa japonica
Pearly Maesa 鯽魚膽 Maesa perlaria
Rapanea 密花樹 Myrsine seguinii
Native to Hong Kong it produces many small white flowers close to its branches in Feb-May and a corresponding number of small pink berries in Oct-Dec.
Sapodillas - Sapotaceae
Sapodilla 人心果 Manilkara zapota
Iron Olive 革葉鐵欖 Sideroxylon wightianum
Snowbells - Styracaceae
Kwangtung Rehderodendron 廣東木瓜紅 Rehderodendron kwangtungense
Fragrant Snowbell 芳香安息香 Styrax odoratissimus
Cork-Leaved Snowbell 栓葉安息香 Styrax suberifolius
A small, evergreen, native tree. The snow-white flowers appear in spring.
Symplocos Family - Symplocaceae
Laurel Sweetleaf 黃牛奶樹 Symplocos cochinchinensis var. laurina
Dense-Flowered Sweetleaf 密花山礬 Symplocos congesta
Glaucous Sweetleaf 羊舌樹 Symplocos glauca
Smooth-Leaved Sweetleaf 光葉山礬 Symplocos lancifolia
Thick-leaved Sweetleaf 厚葉山礬 Symplocos lucida
Sapphire-Berry Sweetleaf 白檀 Symplocos paniculata
Mountain Sweetleaf 山礬 Symplocos sumuntia
Camellias - Theaceae
Rhododendron-Leaved Camellia 杜鵑紅山茶 Camellia azalea
Grown ornamentally in Hong Kong it's native to the Ehuangzhuang Nature Reserve in Yangchun, western Guangdong Province.
Tail-Leaved Camellia 長尾毛蕊茶 Camellia caudata
Golden Camellia 金花茶 Camellia chrysantha
An uncommon ornamental species, not found growing wild.
Crapnell's Camellia 紅皮糙果茶 Camellia crapnelliana
This species was first discovered in 1903 on Mount Parker on Hong Kong Island. It produces the largest fruit of all the Hong Kong camellias. It's easily recognisable by its orange-red bark. As well as Hong Kong it also grows in some nearby Chinese provinces, but the species is classed as vulnerable. It flowers in December. Vulnerable - IUCN Red List.
Grantham's Camellia 大苞山茶 Camellia granthamiana
Discovered in Hong Kong in the 1950s and named after the governor at the time whose surname was Grantham. It flowers in November, the flowers resembling Gordon flowers to some extent, but much larger. It bears large, hard, spherical fruit. This is a rare, endangered species. The tree grows up to 8m in height. Vulnerable - IUCN Red List.
Hong Kong Camellia 香港茶 Camellia hongkongensis
A small, evergreen tree that can grow up to 10m in height. It flowers from December to February. It's the only native camellia to Hong Kong that has pink flowers rather than white. Endangered - IUCN Red List.
Japanese Camellia 山茶 Camellia japonica
An ornamental camellia found in parks and gardens in Hong Kong, not a wild species.
Caduous-Petal Camellia 落瓣油茶 Camellia kissii
Oil-Tea Camellia 油茶 Camellia oleifera
Fruiting in the autumn and flowering in the winter this is the only Hong Kong camellia species with reddish seeds.
Tea 茶 Camellia sinensis
Tea was grown commercially on the Ngong Ping plateau on the island of Lantau for a while.
Walden Tea 香花茶 Camellia sinensis var. waldenae
Gordonia 大頭茶 Polyspora axillaris
A low shrub, common on exposed hillsides, becoming a tree of moderate height in protected places. Flowers appear from October to February. The fruits are oval, woody capsules which split to allow the seeds to escape. Also known as the 'Fried Egg Plant' due to the appearance of the flowers.
Chinese Gugertree / Schima 木荷 Schima superba
A summer-flowering native tree. In some of the older forested areas of Hong Kong the big, old trees are often these ones.