Leafing through some of the many publications on rhododendrons in mainland China and Taiwan today, one sees such headings as "Yushan rhododendron takes prize in British flower show," or "Most rhododendron cultivars in West grown on Chinese rootstocks." The mainland Chinese Rhododendrons even calls the rhododendron the "king of flowers," implying that it has surpassed the peony to take pride of place in international popularity.
今天大陸、台灣發行的杜鵑花書，隨手一翻，「英國花卉大賞，玉山杜鵑奪冠」、「西方栽培種杜鵑多數母本來自中國… …」，中國大陸出版的《中國杜鵑花》甚至稱杜鵑為「花王」，儼然代替牡丹，已在國際上揚眉吐氣。