The name of the Sappho rhododendron comes from the Greek rhodo, which means rose, and dendron, which means tree. Dedicated to the Greek poetess who lived on the island of Lesbos, the Sappho hybrid was created in England in the 19th century. Its white flowers with a purplish central macula form bouquets of 8 to 10 flowers, placed at the ends of the branches. The shrub, about 6.5 ft (2 m) high, has dark green foliage that contrasts with the flowers. The Sappho rhododendron enjoys the cool, acidic soils of Normandy and Brittany.