Scintillation Rhododendron

Size

With little more than a few hours of sun a day, Scintillation Rhododendron fills with pink flowers rising above shiny deep green leaves. Flowers begin to appear in mid-May in soft bunches. This rhododendron grows dense and spreads out to nearly 6 feet tall and 7 feet across in zones 5 through 8. Plant one to act as a pink focal point or several together to form a colorful border. With a light fragrance, the showy flowers can add to the borders appeal. Since the leaves are evergreen, your Scintillation Rhododendron border will look beautiful even in winter. Its amazing that this shrub produces so many flowers while growing in partial shade. And it needs little maintenance, so having several of the shrubs adds little to no landscaping work. There is no need to remove (deadhead) flowers as they fade. Aside from use as a border, place one or more near a home or fence for a nice backdrop to the pink clusters. Scintillation Rhododendron Care You can plant your shrub in early fall or early spring in warm areas of the country, but wait until early spring in areas with colder winters. Choose a spot with some wind protection and with soil that drains well. Add plenty of organic matter without throwing off the soil pH. Rhododendrons like acidic soil. Although this rhododendron can grow in part shade, it needs at least 3 or 4 hours of direct sunlight a day to flower completely. Moderate, consistent water helps keep your rhododendron blooming and happy. In the first year especially, be sure your plant gets regular deep water. Fertilize your rhododendron with an azalea and camellia food, unless your soil is very fertile. Adding a fertilizer once a year with microelements can help improve the plants performance. Prune the shrub after it has finished blooming in preparation for the next year. Lightly prune the first few years to remove dead branches or shape the plant. After several years, give it a rejuvenation prune to reshape the plant as needed. Scintillation Rhododendron Spacing Consider the mature spread of your rhododendron when planting in a border or against a structure. Place the plants about 6 feet apart, and at least 3.5 feet from walls. Also consider the mature height of your rhododendron when planting.