Southern Living Plants Logo
  • About Us
    • History Of The Collection
    • Events
    • Brochure
    • Testimonials
    • Botanical Gardens
    • Why Choose Plants from Southern Living® Plant Collection?
  • The Plants
    • Shrubs
    • Trees
    • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
    • Annuals and Perennials
    • Groundcovers/Grasses
    • Tropicals
    • Vines
    • New Introductions
  • Where to Buy
    • Find a Retailer
    • Online Retailers
    • Local Landscapers
  • In the Garden
    • Plan Your Garden
    • Inspiration & Projects
    • Planting & Care
  • Connect With Us
    • Like Us
    • Pinterest
    • #SLPlants
    • Youtube
    • Request Newsletter
Menu
  • About Us
    • History Of The Collection
    • Events
    • Brochure
    • Testimonials
    • Botanical Gardens
    • Why Choose Plants from Southern Living® Plant Collection?
  • The Plants
    • Shrubs
    • Trees
    • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
    • Annuals and Perennials
    • Groundcovers/Grasses
    • Tropicals
    • Vines
    • New Introductions
  • Where to Buy
    • Find a Retailer
    • Online Retailers
    • Local Landscapers
  • In the Garden
    • Plan Your Garden
    • Inspiration & Projects
    • Planting & Care
  • Connect With Us
    • Like Us
    • Pinterest
    • #SLPlants
    • Youtube
    • Request Newsletter
Search
Close

Growing Rhododendrons in the South

  1. Home
  2. Growing Rhododendrons in the South
  • By Steve Bender
  • August 6, 2019
Grumpy's Guide to Rhododendrons

By ‘The Grumpy Gardener’ Steve Bender

This article by Steve Bender originally appeared on SouthernLiving.com: Growing Rhododendrons in the South

The Grumpy Gardener's pink and white Rhododendron named 'Caroline'
Photo: Steve Bender

This is a rhododendron in my back yard. Her name is ‘Caroline.’ Isn’t she purty? Unfortunately, growing rhododendrons in the South can be quite a challenge, unless you follow Grumpy’s expert advice.

But before we get to that, let me dispel some confusion you may have about rhododendrons. People talk about rhododendrons and azaleas as two different groups of plants, but in fact, all azaleas belong to the genus Rhododendron. Our native azaleas, also called wild honeysuckles, are upright, airy, deciduous shrubs, often with fragrant flowers. Their Asian counterparts, like ‘Hershey’s Red’ and ‘Formosa,’ are dense and mounding, non-fragrant, with evergreen leaves from 1 to 2 inches long. They usually grow from 3 to 8 feet tall and wide.

For this story, rhododendrons refers to those plants with large, evergreen leaves up to 6 inches long. They get bigger than azaleas, 8 to 12 feet tall and wide (although I’ve seen our native Catawba rhododendrons towering 30 feet tall in the North Carolina mountains). Rhododendrons have much bigger flowers than azaleas, bloom later, and are open, not dense.

You with me so far? Good. Now here’s how to grow rhododendrons in the South.

Keys to Not Killing Your Rhododendron

1. Choose heat-tolerant kinds.

The world’s most glorious rhododendrons grow in Seattle, Ireland, England, New Zealand, and other places in the Goldilocks zone where it’s not too hot, not too cold, but just right. We don’t live there. We need rhodies that tolerate long, hot summers, such as ‘A. Bedford’ (lavender-blue), ‘Anah Krushke’ (reddish-purple), ‘Anna Rose Whitney’ (deep pink), ‘Belle Heller’ (white), ‘Caroline’ (orchid-pink), ‘Roseum Elegans’ (lilac-pink), ‘Cynthia’ (rosy-crimson), ‘Nova Zembla’ (red), Southgate Series (various colors), and ‘Vulcan’ (brick-red). Rhododendron Society folks turn up their noses at such “common” types, but in Grumpy’s never-humble opinion, a live common plant beats a dead special one.

2. Pay attention to the soil!

Rhododendrons need moist, acid, loose, well-drained soil that contains a good bit of organic matter. This is why they’re hard to grow here. Most Southerners have either acid, clay soil or alkaline, clay soil. Rhododendrons hate both, because clay drains slowly and roots rot. Rhododendrons also hate being dropped into a turkey frier, but I doubt that happens very often. Once burnt, twice shy.

3. Plant a little high.

No, I don’t mean you should be a little high. This ain’t Colorado. Grumpy means you should plant your rhododendron so that the top of its root ball sticks about one inch above the soil surface. Then cover the exposed root ball with mulch. This improves drainage and aeration around the root ball. No weed required.

4. Provide light shade, especially in the afternoon.

Plant rhododendrons in the dappled light beneath tall pines and hardwoods. Don’t plant in deep shade or the plants won’t bloom.

—

This article by Steve Bender originally appeared on SouthernLiving.com: Growing Rhododendrons in the South

Pin it for later!

Steve Bender

Steve Bender grew up in Lutherville, MD and was exiled to Alabama in 1983 for reasons that remain secret to this day. He loves fried okra and often selects dinner wine based on whether it goes well with fried okra. His mission is to make gardening uplifting, accessible, and inspirational to all. He will no doubt succeed.
View More Articles

Related Articles

Top 5 Plants for Shade

Make gardening much easier by choosing from our list of top 5 plants for shade.

How to Plant Rhododendrons in Your Southern Garden

These Southgate Rhododendrons from Southern Living were selected for our Southern heat and are perfect for part to full shade landscapes.

Shade Lover’s Garden

Those of us with a lot of trees in the landscape often wonder what to do!

Plants Featured In The article

Rhododendron
Medium pink buds and light pink flowers sit atop large green leaved foliage

Southgate® Breeze™ Rhododendron

Rhododendron hybrid ‘Janet Blair’
Rhododendron

Southgate® Elegance™ Rhododendron

Rhododendron hybrid ‘Fair City’
Rhododendron

Southgate® Brandi™ Rhododendron

Rhododendron ‘Brandi Michele Raley’
Rhododendron
Medium pink buds and several bright white open flowers sit atop bright green foliage

Southgate® Divine™ Rhododendron

Rhododendron hybrid ‘Lisenne Rockefeller’
Rhododendron

Southgate® Charm™ Rhododendron

Rhododendron ‘Max’
Rhododendron

Southgate® Grace™ Rhododendron

Rhododendron hybrid ‘Elizabeth Ard’
Rhododendron

Southgate® Radiance™ Rhododendron

Rhododendron hybrid ‘Tyler Morris’
Rhododendron

Southgate® Splendor™ Rhododendron

Rhododendron hybrid ‘HOLDEN52’ PP30235

Join the Conversation!

Where To Buy
Southern Living Plants

{find a garden center near you}

Southern Living Plants Logo
Instagram
Facebook-f
Pinterest
Youtube

Plants

  • Annuals and Perennials
  • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
  • Groundcovers/Grasses
  • Shrubs
  • Trees
  • Tropicals
  • Vines
Menu
  • Annuals and Perennials
  • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
  • Groundcovers/Grasses
  • Shrubs
  • Trees
  • Tropicals
  • Vines

About Us

  • About Us
  • History Of The Collection
  • Events
  • Botanical Gardens
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
Menu
  • About Us
  • History Of The Collection
  • Events
  • Botanical Gardens
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us

PRO Resources

  • Brand Resources
  • Marketing Support
  • Fact Sheets
  • Image Gallery
  • Re-Wholesaler Locator
Menu
  • Brand Resources
  • Marketing Support
  • Fact Sheets
  • Image Gallery
  • Re-Wholesaler Locator
©2020 Southern Living Plant Collection