The Vireya Rhododendron genus is native to tropical mountain forests of southeast Asia. They account for more than one third of all Rhododendron genera and demonstrate great variability in foliage, flower type and colour. Many outstanding cultivars have resulted from hybridation such as ‘Princess Alexandra" and "Souvenir de J.H.Mangles". As positive charcateristics for pot cultivation Vireya species are easy to propagate and to grow, they do not require cold temperatures to initiate flowering and repeat flowering is common. On the negative side growth tends to be loose and straggly although some bushy and prostrate forms do exist. Experiments with Cytokinins such as N-6-BA(PBA) to encourage branching and with growth regulators such as Paclobutrazol (Bonsai) have demonstrated that these species can be stimulated to grow more compact and to flower more profusely. The growth retardant Bonsai provided the best result of all the growth regulators tried and seems to act also as a trigger for flower induction. The effect is carried over because trial plants flowered again in the autumn. Some species are more suitable as pot plants due to leaf and flower characteristics (R. ericoides and R. buxifolium have very small leaves). Others are especially suited for landscape use due to their vigour. Flower types range from large single flowers to clusters of bells, open cups or long tubular flowers. Ohio Florists’ Association Bulletin No. 855 www.ofa.org E-mail: ofa@ofa.org