Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Rhododendron mucronulatum 'Cornell Pink'
Cornell Pink Korean Rhododendron
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Height
- 4 to 8 ft
- Width
- 2 to 3 ft
- Flower color
- Clear light pink blooms
- Foliage color
- Deciduous medium green leaves, turning yellow to red in fall
- Bloom time
- Late winter to early spring
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; little pruning needed beyond removing spent flowers
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 8
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract bees and other pollinators, including hummingbirds
About this plant
Rhododendron mucronulatum 'Cornell Pink' is a deciduous shrub that blooms on bare stems in late winter to early spring. Clear, light pink, funnel-shaped flowers open in clusters before the leaves emerge, creating an airy veil of color during the quiet end of winter. After flowering, fresh green foliage fills in for the growing season and often develops warm fall tones before dropping.
This selection originated at Cornell University and is widely grown for dependable cold-weather performance and very early bloom. 'Cornell Pink' fits naturally along woodland edges and mixed shrub borders where its leafless-branch flowering can be appreciated up close, especially near paths and entry areas when little else is in flower.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Foundation Gardens · Cottage Gardens · Hummingbird Gardens
Companion plants
Asters · Cotoneaster · Bee balm · Smoke bush · Dianthus · California lilac
Design tip
Choose a location visible from an entry or window so ‘Cornell Pink’ can brighten the garden during its unusually early bloom season. Its narrow, upright form also slips easily between broader shrubs, adding height without occupying excessive space in the planting.
