Rhododendron

(Rhododendron species)

August 1996

Summary:

Foliage: Evergreen or semi-evergreen broadleaf
Height: 6 to 10 feet
Spread: 5 to 8 feet or more
Shape: Bushy

Large, evergreen leaves are dark green. Large round flower clusters are white, pink, purple or red and occur at tips of branches.

Plant Needs:

Zone: 4 to 7
Light: Partial shade
Moisture: Wet or moist
Soil Type: Sandy or loam
pH Range: 3.7 to 5.5

Functions:

Suggested uses for this plant include border, massing, foundation and specimen plant.

Planting Notes:

Plant in partial shade. Filtered sunlight is ideal and afternoon shade is desirable in the Tidewater area.
Buy container grown plants or those with balled and burlapped roots.
Sites sloping to the north or east protect plant from drying winter sun and harsh winds, which cause leaf scorch.

Care:

Mulch with an organic mulch to conserve moisture, minimize winter injury, and prevent root damage from cultivation.
Prune all diseased branches as soon as noticed.

Problems:

Susceptible to a number of diseases including root rot, petal blight, and dieback.
Insect pests include aphids, borers, lacebugs, scale insects, and red spider mites, weevils and whitefly.

Alternatives:

Consult local sources, including historic or public gardens and arboreta, regarding cultivars and related species that grow well in your area.

Catawba Hybrid Rhododendrons:
`Roseum Elegans' has lavender pink flowers.
`Nova Zembla' has red flowers and is cold and heat tolerant.

Comments:

Many beautiful rhododendron varieties exist, but cold hardiness or heat tolerance limit their availability in a particular area.
Rhododendrons usually refer to the large leaf types with large terminal flower clusters. Azaleas refer to the deciduous and small leaf evergreen hybrids with funnel shaped smaller flower clusters.

Additional Materials:

The PRUNING SERIES videotape can be ordered through your local Extension office.
The following Extension publications can be ordered from your local Extension office or directly from: Extension Distribution Center 112 Landsdowne Street Blacksburg, VA 24061
#426-602 "Growing Azaleas and Rhododendrons"
#426-500 "Winter Injury to Trees and Shrubs"
#426-607 "Selecting Landscape Plants - Broad-leaved Evergreens"

This material was developed by Carol Ness as part of the Interactive Design and Development Project funded by the Kellogg Foundation. Mary Miller, Project Director. Diane Relf, Content Specialist, Horticulture. Copyright 1989 by VCE.

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