Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Rhododendron 'Marissa'
Marissa Rhododendron
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Height
- 3 to 4 feet
- Width
- 3 to 4 feet
- Flower color
- Soft pink to bright magenta pink flowers with a darker maroon blotch in the throat
- Foliage color
- Dark green leathery elliptic leaves
- Bloom time
- Mid spring; often April to May
- Light
- Partial shade
- Water
- Average evenly moist well drained acidic soil; prefers consistent moisture
- Maintenance
- Low; remove spent flower trusses after blooming and prune lightly if needed to maintain shape
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 7 to 9
- Wildlife
- Bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects
About this plant
Rhododendron 'Marissa' produces rounded trusses of soft pink to medium pink flowers in mid to late spring, each bloom showing gentle variation in tone with slightly deeper pink along the petal edges. The blossoms are held above the foliage and create a full seasonal display. Leathery evergreen leaves cover the stems, displaying deep green surfaces that form a dense, polished canopy throughout the year.
This cultivar traces its heritage to hybrid rhododendrons developed for ornamental gardens. In landscapes it provides evergreen structure for borders and woodland plantings where the soft pink blooms add seasonal color among other shade-loving shrubs.
Works well in
Shade Gardens · Borders · Cottage Gardens · Woodland Gardens
Companion plants
Daphnes · Hydrangea · Coral bells · Solomon's seal · Oxalis · Hellebore
Design tip
Group ‘Marissa’ with shrubs that flower earlier or later, allowing its pink blooms to carry color through the middle of the spring display. Its compact scale helps maintain a layered arrangement without leaving an awkward gap once the flowers have faded.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at PowellsWood Garden.
