Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Rhododendron 'Fire Rim'
Fire Rim Rhododendron
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Height
- 5 ft to 7 ft
- Width
- 5 ft to 7 ft
- Flower color
- Creamy yellow flowers with orange red margins and softly ruffled petals
- Foliage color
- Glossy dark green leaves with a dense evergreen growth habit
- Bloom time
- Mid to late spring
- Light
- Partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; remove spent flower trusses and prune lightly after flowering if needed
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 6 to 8
- Wildlife
- Hummingbirds, bees and pollinators attracted to nectar rich spring flowers
About this plant
Rhododendron 'Fire Rim' produces broad trusses of creamy yellow flowers edged in warm orange to reddish coral, blooming in mid to late spring. Elliptical leaves are dark green, leathery, and evergreen, forming a dense canopy. The flowers are carried prominently at the branch tips, with gently ruffled petals and golden throats that add texture and depth during the bloom season. Coral-toned buds contribute additional color before the flowers fully open.
Originating through hybrid breeding, this cultivar reflects selection focused on warm flower coloration and ornamental performance. It is well suited to woodland borders, foundation plantings, and specimen settings, where its evergreen framework and spring bloom provide lasting seasonal interest and visual appeal.
Works well in
Shade Gardens · Borders · Cottage Gardens · Hummingbird Gardens
Companion plants
Sarcococca · Rodgersia · Cyclamen · Fatsia · Lungwort · Primrose
Design tip
Make ‘Fire Rim’ the spring focal point within an evergreen planting, where surrounding greenery will emphasize its unusual two-toned flowers. Keeping other brightly flowering shrubs farther away prevents competing colors from diminishing the distinctive orange-red edging that defines each bloom.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Sebright Gardens.
