Habitat
- zone 4
- man made hybrid from R. carolinianum x R. ferrigineum
cross.
Habit
and Form
- evergreen shrub
- reaches about 3' to 4' tall and 4' to 6' wide
- dense, compact form
- very neat and appealing to the eye
Summer
Foliage
- medium-sized (for a rhododendron) leaves
- 2.5" to 3" long and 0.75" to 1" wide
- elliptical shape with acute apex
- alternate leaf arrangement
- very dark green color
- dark-spotted underside of leaves because of a scaly covering
Autumn
Foliage
Flowers
- relatively small pink flowers
- not as showy as most rhododendrons
- blooms in late spring so the flowers are partially obscured by new
foliage
Fruit
- not of ornamental importance
Bark
- not visible through foliage
Culture
- partial shade is best
- prefers moist, cool, acidic, well-drained, organic soil
- avoid harsh, dry, hot, windswept sites
Landscape
Use
- one of the best broadleaf evergreens for foliage
- useful in mass plantings and grouping
- excellent as a neutral filler at the base of leggy plants
- for borders
- good foundation plant
Liabilities
- lacks highly showy flowers many expect on a rhododendron
- phytophthora root rot
- desiccation of foliage in harsh sites
- poor performance on high pH soils
ID
Features
- dark green, shiny leaves with elliptical shape an acute tip
- compact, dense, uniform habit
- small (for rhododendron) pink flowers
- foliage not highly aromatic
Propagation
- by late summer, fall, or winter stem cuttings
Cultivars/Varieties
