Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Rhododendron augustinii
Augustine's Rhododendron
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Height
- 6 to 12 ft
- Width
- 6 to 10 ft
- Flower color
- Clear lavender-blue to violet-blue flowers, often with a darker purple blotch on the upper petal
- Foliage color
- Evergreen, elongated lance-shaped leaves, medium to dark green with a matte to slightly glossy finish
- Bloom time
- Mid to late spring
- Light
- Partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; remove spent flowers; prune lightly after bloom as needed
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 7 to 9
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract bees and other pollinators; dense evergreen structure provides shelter and cover for birds and small wildlife
About this plant
Rhododendron augustinii is an evergreen shrub known for its graceful habit and narrow, elongated leaves with a soft green surface. In mid to late spring, it produces loose trusses of funnel-shaped flowers, most often in clear lavender-blue to violet-blue shades, with a darker purple blotch near the center. The flowers are borne freely across the plant, creating a light, airy floral display that pairs well with the refined foliage.
This species is native to western China, where it grows in mountainous regions and woodland margins. Its combination of spring bloom, evergreen structure, and soft blue coloration makes it well suited to woodland borders, mixed shrub plantings, and gardens emphasizing cool-toned spring interest.
Works well in
Shade Gardens · Foundation Plantings · Cottage Gardens · Woodland Gardens
Companion plants
Skimmia · Japanese forest grass · Epimedium · Pieris · Trillium · Foamflower
Design tip
Make the unusual lavender-blue flowers of Augustine’s rhododendron a highlight in the spring garden by giving it some breathing room rather than crowding it among other flowering shrubs. Its open, graceful shape looks especially natural near the edge of a woodland planting.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.
