How Tall Are Rhododendrons?
- The height of rhododendrons ranges anywhere between 2 and 10 feet. The Rhododendron genus also includes azaleas, and the mature heights of those plants range from 8-inch-tall ground covers to 20-foot-tall large shrubs or small trees. All azaleas are rhododendrons, but not all rhododendrons are azaleas.
- Rhododendrons come in thousands of varieties and new hybrids and cultivars are produced regularly. More than 3,000 varieties of rhododendrons grow in the United States alone. This accounts for the great variability in the sizes of the plants. Rhododendrons have been in cultivation around the world for several centuries.
- The woody-stemmed shrubs have 3- to 6-inch-long, dark-green, leathery foliage. The branches grow horizontally in a tierlike manner. The shrubs are favored for their single or double flowers in a range of colors, including red, orange, purple, pink or white. The fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers are 1/2 to 4 inches wide and are often variegated or freckled.
- Rhododendrons thrive in a very well-drained and acidic soil with a preferred pH of 5.0 to 5.5. In sites with poorly drained soil, it is recommended to plant on raised beds. Amend soil with organic material such as leaf mold prior to planting to improve fertility. Select a site that is protected from wind and the hot afternoon sun. The plants adapt to areas of continual filtered shade also but some morning sun is better for growth. Rhododendrons are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 through 9.
