Growing Information

Growing zone guide
Growing Zone Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8
Sunlight Partial shade
Type of Soil Acidic
Mature Height 3 to 4 ft.
Maintenance Level Moderate maintenance
Water Requirement High water needs (twice a week)

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Additional Information
Growth Rate

Moderate; reaches about 3–4 ft tall × 3–4 ft wide at maturity.


Naturally compact, mounded form.

Colorful Leaves No
Flowering Yes
Bloom Color Pink
Ornamental Berries N/A
Disease resistant Yes
Cold Tolerant Yes
Heat Tolerant No
Drought Tolerant No
Deer Resistant No
Edible No
Wildlife Attraction

Flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.


Dense foliage offers shelter for small birds.

Self-pollinating Cross-pollinating
Seasonality

Spring: spectacular raspberry-pink flower display.


Summer: glossy evergreen foliage provides structure.


Fall: evergreen leaves hold color; plant maintains form.


Winter: evergreen presence adds year-round interest.

Ideal For

– Foundation plantings, shaded borders, woodland gardens, specimen plantings, groupings in acid soil beds

Leaf Description

Evergreen foliage; glossy, leathery leaves, deep green.


Provides year-round structure and color.

Flower Description

Large, frilly trusses of raspberry-pink flowers with ruffled petals.


Blooms in mid- to late spring.


Showy, full flower heads create a strong garden focal point.

Pruning & Maintenance

Minimal pruning needed; naturally forms a rounded mound.


Remove spent blooms (deadheading) after flowering to encourage next year’s buds.


Prune lightly after flowering if shaping is required.


Avoid heavy pruning into old wood, as it reduces flowering.

Water Needs

Requires consistent moisture; water deeply and regularly, especially during dry spells.


Soil must be moist but well-drained—avoid standing water.


Mulch helps conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature.

Light Needs

Prefers partial shade (morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal).


Can tolerate dappled light or high filtered shade.


Avoid full sun in hot climates, which may scorch leaves.

Harvesting

Not grown for harvest; ornamental only.


Flowers may be cut for short-lived arrangements.

Fertilizing

Feed in spring after flowering with a fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants (e.g., rhododendron/azalea feed).


Avoid over-fertilizing, as Rhododendrons have shallow, sensitive roots.


Annual mulch with organic matter maintains soil health.

Additional Care Tips N/A
Pollination

Insect-pollinated; flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.


Produces seed capsules, though ornamental value is in flowers.

Companion Plants

Shade-loving perennials: Hosta, Heuchera, Astilbe, and Ferns.


Acid-loving shrubs: Pieris japonica, Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel), Azaleas, and other Rhododendrons.


Groundcovers: Pachysandra, Ajuga, or Epimedium to cover soil and retain moisture.


Evergreens: Dwarf conifers or boxwoods for year-round structure.

Flowering and Seasonality

Spring: spectacular raspberry-pink flower display.


Summer: glossy evergreen foliage provides structure.


Fall: evergreen leaves hold color; plant maintains form.


Winter: evergreen presence adds year-round interest.

Large, frilly trusses of raspberry-pink flowers with ruffled petals.


Blooms in mid- to late spring.


Showy, full flower heads create a strong garden focal point.

Pet Friendly

No

Growing Zone
  • Zone 5
  • Zone 6
  • Zone 7
  • Zone 8

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