Additional notes (click to expand)

Toxicity

Mad Honey is still made and sold today in Turkey and Britain under the local name Deli Bal. The concentration of grayanotoxins is controlled to a low level. These and similar toxins are probably produced by plants to deter grazing animals and harmful insects, such as thrips.
Mayor, A .1995 Mad Honey!. Archaeology, 4 (6), 32-40

No medicinal value but the leaves of rhododendrons are very poisonous, due to a toxic resin called grayanotoxin. This is also present in the nectar; sucking it from the flowers or eating two leaves, causes serious illness - stomach upsets, gastric haemorrhage, aspiration pneumonia, renal tubular damage and liver damage. Diarrhoea, vomiting, anorexia, weakness, incoordination, stupor and often death (Illinois Veterinary library website, 2013). Honey from pollen of R. luteum is thought to have poisoned Xenophon's army in 401BC and Pompey's army in his campaign against King Mithridates of Pontus in 66 BC. Honey from another rhododendron, R. afghanicum, poisoned Alexander the Great's army in 327 BC. However this may both have been due to Oleander.
Oakeley, Dr. Henry F. (2013). Wellcome Library notes. link

"Humans/Pets: Harmful if eaten"- HTA guidelines
HTA Guide to Potentially Harmful Plants, 3rd Edition (2022)

Rhododendron 'Wine and Roses'

Family: ERICACEAE
Genus: Rhododendron
Species:
Cultivar: 'Wine and Roses'
Common names: Rhododendron
Distribution summary: Garden origin
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Habitat: Moist woodland and riverbanks
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Plants in pots (POT)
Reason for growing: Toxic


Back to List