Rhododendron Elizabeth

Rhododendron 'Elizabeth' is a small-size hybrid with large red flowers, a hardy evergreen shrub that can tolerate the sun and even heat in damp soil. With its large, brilliant blood-red flowers, it is perfect for brightening up the garden in spring. Its persistent dark green and satin-like foliage is interesting even outside of the flowering period. This vigorous variety with a dense and spreading habit will look stunning in an ericaeous bed or a large container, in partial shade or even in full sun!

Rhododendrons are plants from the Rricaceae family, just like heathers, preferring soils that are devoid of limestone, acidic in nature, and wet climates. 'Elizabeth' naturally forms a dense, spreading bush, approximately 70 cm (28in) tall and 1 m (3ft) wide. Its growth is rather slow. Its persistent elliptical leaves, with a dark green, satin finish, cover the plant well. They have a very velvety underside. In May, its remarkably abundant flowering overwhelms the shrub: beautiful and large campanulate flowers, grouped in slightly loose corymbs of 4 to 7 units, bloom. Their blood-red colour is enhanced by the shiny texture of the petals.

Rhododendron 'Elizabeth' is a shiny bush, hardy down to -15°C (5°F) or even -20°C (1°F), and easy to cultivate, as long as the conditions are suitable in terms of soil and climate. Even though they prefer partial shade, hybrid Rhododendrons with large flowers can tolerate the sun as long as it is not scorching and their base remains damp. 'Elizabeth', with its generous and shining flowering, will elegantly decorate a small, partially shaded space in the garden, patio or balcony. Plant it alongside ferns, blue or variegated hostas, Pieris, heathers, Kalmias, Azaleas, and Japanese Maples, or other rhododendrons from the same group to create beautiful patchworks of textures and colours in spring. Growing it in a container requires regular watering with non-calcareous water and fertilizer specific for heather plants.