Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Rhododendron 'Bow Bells'
Bow Bells Rhododendron
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Height
- 3 to 4 ft
- Width
- 3 to 4 ft
- Flower color
- Shell-pink, bell-shaped flowers
- Foliage color
- Evergreen leaves; small, oval
- Bloom time
- Mid-spring (typically April to May)
- Light
- Part shade to dappled light
- Water
- Consistently moist
- Maintenance
- Low to moderate; remove spent flowers after bloom
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 6b to 9
- Wildlife
- Spring blooms attract early pollinators such as bees; evergreen foliage provides year-round shelter and cover for birds and small garden wildlife
About this plant
Rhododendron 'Bow Bells' is a compact evergreen with small, rounded leaves that emerge coppery bronze before maturing to soft mid-green. In spring, deep pink buds open into loose clusters of bell- to funnel-shaped flowers, pale clear pink inside with a darker pink flush or blotch toward the throat. Blooming in mid- to late spring, the softly tinted bells create a delicate display against the evergreen foliage and are visited by bees and other pollinators.
'Bow Bells' was bred in England in the 1930's and later registered in 1958. Its tidy mound-forming habit, attractive young foliage, and reliable spring flowering have earned it the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. It works well in woodland borders, mixed shrub plantings, and smaller gardens where its clear pink bells can be appreciated at close range.
Works well in
Shade Gardens · Borders · Pathways & Walkways · Woodland Gardens
Companion plants
Holly · Pulmonaria · Oxalis · Japanese aralia · Celandine · Coral bells
Design tip
Plant ‘Bow Bells’ along the front of a layered shrub planting, where its rounded form can soften the transition to lower perennials. A spot beside a shaded path also brings its spring flowers close enough to enjoy their delicate coloring.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.
