Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Rhododendron racemosum 'Rock Rose'
Rock Rose Small-leaved Rhododendron
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Height
- 2 to 4 ft
- Width
- 2 to 4 ft
- Flower color
- Bright to medium pink blooms
- Foliage color
- Evergreen medium to dark green leaves
- Bloom time
- Early spring
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; little pruning needed beyond removing spent flowers
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 7a to 8b
- Wildlife
- Fragrant shows of spring flowers attract pollinators; evergreen foliage provides year-round cover and shelter for small wildlife
About this plant
Rhododendron racemosum 'Rock Rose' is an evergreen shrub with small, oval leaves in mid to dark green, often showing a paler, glaucous look beneath. In early spring, it flowers along the stems, producing widely funnel-shaped blooms in bright to medium pink that can appear from the leaf axils as well as near the tips. The flowers bring a clear flush of color while much of the garden is still waking up.
'Rock Rose' is a cultivated selection of the Chinese species Rhododendron racemosum, where it received an Award of Merit. It has also earned the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Its upright habit and early flowering make it useful in woodland-style borders and mixed rhododendron plantings.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Borders · Cottage Gardens · Fragrant Gardens
Companion plants
Phlox · Pittosporum · Hardy mums · Feather reed grass · Cranesbill · Butterfly bush
Design tip
Feature ‘Rock Rose’ where its upright silhouette can rise behind lower plants without overwhelming them. Repeating it through a mixed shrub planting carries its early spring color across the garden while the fine foliage keeps the arrangement feeling light.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
