Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Rhododendron 'Wee Bee'
Wee Bee Rhododendron
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Height
- 1 to 3 ft
- Width
- 2 to 3 ft
- Flower color
- Rose-pink buds, opening to frilled lighter pink blossoms
- Foliage color
- Small dark green, evergreen leaves
- Bloom time
- Mid to late spring (April-May)
- Light
- Part sun to shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; prune lightly after bloom
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 7b to 9b
- Wildlife
- Spring flowers attract bees and other pollinators; evergreen foliage offers low-level shelter for small wildlife
About this plant
Rhododendron 'Wee Bee' is a dwarf evergreen shrub with a low, mounded habit and small, green leaves that can show a hint of bronze in cooler weather. In early to mid spring, dark pink buds open to rose-pink tubular-shaped flowers with frilled lobes. Blooms often show lighter blush-pink on the inside, that give a bright wash of color over the compact foliage.
'Wee Bee' has earned recognition including the RHS Award of Garden Merit and American Rhododendron Society awards. Its dwarf stature, neat habit, and cheerful spring flowers make it especially useful at the front of borders, in rock gardens, small spaces, and containers where its detail can be appreciated up close.
Works well in
Shade Gardens · Borders · Containers · Woodland Gardens
Companion plants
Pieris · Japanese forest grass · Brunnera · Viburnum · Trillium · Lungwort
Design tip
Repeat ‘Wee Bee’ along the front of a planting to create a low, gently flowing edge rather than a rigid line. Its compact mounds can also bridge small gaps between larger shrubs and nearby rocks, keeping the lower planting layer connected.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
