Dwarf rhododendrons and azaleas: best varieties
8 delightful varieties to discover!
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Rhododendrons and Azaleas stand out for their impressive spring flowering, often very colourful. Despite different names, these heather-soil bushes both belong to same botanical genus and are therefore closely related. In any case, flowering of these bushes is spectacular and declinate across a wide palette of colours. These plants also vary greatly in height and some dwarf varieties measure less than 1 m in height. They are ideal for small gardens, for container growing and can also find their place in a shaded rockery, in a flower bed, or as a border.
Here we present the best varieties and their characteristics, to help you make the right choice!
Rhododendron 'Dora Amateis'
Rhododendron ‘Dora Amateis’ is covered in April–May with abundant pure-white flowering, giving the bush a cloud-like appearance. Its flowers, very numerous, are trumpet-shaped and measure up to 3 cm long. They are grouped in corymbs of 6 to 8 flowers. This rhododendron forms a low, very spreading bush, reaching up to 60 cm in height, and bears dark green, evergreen leaves. It is very hardy, as it can withstand down to −26 °C. In the garden, this variety adds a chic, elegant touch. It creates a superb effect in a romantic garden, alongside other delicate flowering in shades of white, pink and mauve. Its qualities have earned it the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Elegant white flowers of Rhododendron ‘Dora Amateis’ (photo peganum)
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Which rhododendron to choose?Rhododendron impeditum
Rhododendron impeditum is a botanical species, which exists as such in nature, and is native to the Yunnan region of China. It is a dwarf rhododendron that, in March–April, is covered in countless small violet-mauve flowers. They are funnel-shaped, measure between 2–3 cm in length, and bear long, very decorative stamens at their centre. This rhododendron has a very low, spreading habit, not exceeding 50–60 cm in height. It bears small elliptical leaves that measure up to 1.5 cm in length. They are dark green–greyish, and are evergreen. This rhododendron is quite hardy, able to withstand temperatures down to −20 °C. In the garden, it is ideal for enhancing a shaded rockery!
Ravishing small mauve flowers of Rhododendron impeditum
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Japanese Azalea ‘Johanna’
Japanese azalea ‘Johanna’ forms a dense bush which measures up to 60 cm in height and spread, and which in April-May produces superb flowers of an intense, deep red. They are trumpet-shaped and reach 5 cm in diameter. When the bush is in full flowering, they almost entirely cover the foliage. The latter consists of small ovate, evergreen leaves, dark green, taking on a purplish hue in autumn! This Japanese azalea has been awarded the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticulture Society (RHS).
Impressive red flowering of Japanese azalea ‘Johanna’ (photo David J. Stang)
Rhododendron ‘Bloombux’
‘Bloombux’ is a charming rhododendron with a dense, rounded habit, reaching up to 1 m in height and spread. It bears beautiful small soft-pink flowers, grouped into rounded panicles. With its evergreen foliage of a fairly bright green, rhododendron ‘Bloombux’ is a bush that can replace box. All the more so as it tolerates pruning very well! In the garden, it proves quite versatile and will be perfect in a romantic bed, in a border, or even in a pot! It copes better than other varieties with calcareous or clay soils, and also tolerates non-scorching sun.
Rhododendron ‘Bloombux’ bears charming small pink flowers in spring!
Japanese Azalea 'Hino-Crimson'
Azalea ‘Hino Crimson’ is impressive for its abundance of flowers and their vivid colour! From early spring, in March–April, it literally becomes covered with a multitude of small bright red flowers, which measure between 1 and 3 cm in length. This variety catches the eye and enlivens borders, creating a focal point in the garden. It is fairly compact, as it does not exceed 60–70 cm in height. You can grow it in a border, in a rockery or in a pot.
Pink-red flowers of the Japanese azalea ‘Hino-Crimson’
Rhododendron fragrantissimum
Rhododendron fragrantissimum offers large, handsome, very fragrant white flowers. It flowers very early, from March, bearing funnel-shaped flowers up to 7 cm long, usually marked with pink on the reverse. Leaves are dark green, elliptical and pubescent. It is best to protect it from cold in winter, as it is susceptible when temperatures fall below -8 °C. It has received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Elegant white, fragrant flowering of Rhododendron fragrantissimum
Rhododendron ‘DreamLand’
Rhododendron yakushimanum ‘Dreamland’ is a small bush that flowers in April and May and carries pronounced pink flower buds that open to form pale pink flowers with undulating petals. It has evergreen foliage, dark green on upper surface and brown on underside. It forms an elegant small bush reaching up to 70–80 cm in height. It is very hardy (down to −20 °C) and will thrive in partial shade or in sun.
Flowering of Rhododendron ‘Dreamland’ offers superb shades of white and pink
Rhododendron 'Moerheim'
‘Moerheim’ is a small rhododendron that produces violet flowers in spring, funnel-shaped, not exceeding 3 cm in length. They bear long stamens with pinkish hues at their centre. Rhododendron ‘Moerheim’ also has small dark-green leaves, which turn bronze in winter. It forms a small dense, spreading shrub, not exceeding 60 cm in height. Its qualities earned it the Award of Garden Merit in 1993 from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is ideal for growing in a pot and copes rather well with sunny aspects.
Violet-mauve flowers of Rhododendron ‘Moerheim’
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