Rhododendrons are beautiful woodland plants that can thrive in your garden, giving year-round interest. Over 1000 varieties of rhododendrons are available, most with showy, colorful flower displays. They range in size from tiny species just inches tall to mid-sized shrubs to R. giganteum, which can reach 30 meters tall.
Rhodos in season show a mass of color
Rhodos are widely distributed throughout the world, occurring naturally almost everywhere except South America and Africa. The most familiar are the cool-climate evergreen species with their colorful blooms. These originated in the Himalayas, southwestern China and northern Myanmar. Others are found scattered across northern Asia, Europe and North America.
Landscapers love both species and hybrid rhododendrons (including azaleas) for their structure, size, colorful flowers, and the fact that many of them are evergreen.
They are generally grouped in mass, with varieties that bloom around the same time, and flower colors that complement each other. Larger-leafed rhododendrons are used in informal plantings and woodland gardens, or as specimen plants.
How to Grow Rhododendrons
Rhododendrons are quite easy to grow. They prefer light, well-drained acid soils high in organic material and a pH between 4.5 and5.5. With their fairly shallow fibrous roots, mulching and careful watering are important, especially before the plant is well established. In areas with poorly-drained or alkaline soils, rhododendrons can be grown in raised beds with acidic mediums added, such as peat or composted pine bark.
They prefer some shade, in a moist woodland setting, but if well mulched and irrigated, they can flourish in many locations. Because of their shallow roots, little or no cultivation should be done around the plants. Instead, weeds should be pulled or cut off; or better still, deep mulch will prevent most weed growth as well as retain ground moisture.
This red rhododendron blooms before any other in my garden.
Care for your plants by feeding them in late winter or early spring with slow-release fertilizer pellets, or by top-dressing with blood and bonemeal, well-decayed compost, coconut fibre, rice hulls or leaf mould.
After blooming, deadhead the flowers to encourage a bushier habit in young plants. Be careful not to remove next season’s flower and leaf buds as you’re deadheading.
Rhododendrons can live for many years in containers, an option if you have difficult soils. There are specialized mixes available, but a freely draining, general-purpose potting mix will do. Plants in containers will need extra watering and top-dressing annually. Plants growing together can be watered by drip irrigation.
The few problems that afflict rhododendrons can be solved by simply improving the growing conditions, rather than by chemical means. Generally, rhododendrons are sickened by excessive pampering.
Practice careful neglect with established rhododendrons which are performing well. Keep your precious plants pleasantly moist in reasonably good soil, fertilize in early spring and after blooming, and they will want little else while giving you years of color and pleasure.
