RHODODENDRON

Commonly known as Rose bay

Scented Rhododendrons suitable for conservatory or cool greenhouse are marked with an asterisk.

Syn. Azalea.

Genus of more than 1000 species of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs from Europe, Asia, Australasia and North America, particularly southwestern China, Tibet, Burma, northern India and New Guinea.

Evergreen rhododendrons vary greatly in size and usually have bell-shaped flowers with 10 stamens.

Azaleas have smaller, thinner leaves and are generally medium-sized shrubs with smaller, funnel-shaped flowers with, usually, 5 stamens.

The problem rhododendron, vigorous hybrids of R. ponticum, which is colonizing large areas has been given the name R x superponticum and is subject to EU legislation under the "Invasive Alien Species Regulation".

Garden location should have suitably acidic soil.

Full Plant Details - Sun/Soil & other attributes

Good to know
Syn. Azalea. Shallow planting in lime-free soil is essential. Deadhead carefully where practical to promote vegetative growth.
Place of origin
Europe, Asia, Australasia, North America
Youtube video
View Timelapse Rhododendron 'Nova Zembla'
Rhododendrons
Deciduous
Evergreen
Dwarf shrub
Typically only grows to a maximum of one or two feet in height but there will be some exceptions.
Medium shrub
Typically grow to around 4-6 feet in height
Tall Shrub
Scented flowers
Acid / ericaceous loving
Ideally pH 4.5-6.0
Fertile moist well-drained soil
Humus-rich
Neutral to acid soil
harmful if eaten
People and pets, i.e. cats, dogs, rabbits, rodents, tortoises
Rabbit Resistant

View Planting Tips and Care Advice

Cold weather damage to evergreen plants

What do with cold weather damage

Rhododendron - Care Guide

Rhododendron - Propagation

Rhododendron - Video Spotlights

Shrubs and Trees - Seeds - 1) Collecting Seeds

Shrubs and Trees - Seeds - 2) Storing Seeds

Shrubs and Trees - Seeds - 3) Planting Seeds

Planting seeds in spring

More Care Guides & Tips

Search Caerhays Garden Diary for more info & pictures

View Planting Combinations

MAGNOLIA sargentiana var robusta and RHODODENDRON

RHODODENDRON 'Taurus'

Strong red with darker markings

2 to 3 Litre

£24.00

Notify me

Available late spring to early summer 2026
Spring according to the Met Office is defined as March 1st - May 31st. Therefore late spring is mid-April onwards. This is not a guaranteed date but an estimate and subject to availability.

RHODODENDRON 'Tortoiseshell Orange'

Deep orange flowers late in the season

Large only

£45.00

RHODODENDRON 'Wee Bee'

Dwarf rhododendron. Tubular, frilled rose-pink flowers with red spots

2 to 3 Litre

£24.00

Notify me

Available Early Spring 2026
Spring according to the Met office is defined as March 1st - May 31st. Therefore early spring is early March to mid-April. This is not a guaranteed date but an estimate and subject to availability.