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Key characteristics

Family: Ericaceae
Height: 6 to 12 ft
Width: 6 to 10 ft
Flower color: Clear lavender-blue to violet-blue flowers, often with a darker purple blotch on the upper petal
Foliage color: Evergreen, elongated lance-shaped leaves, medium to dark green with a matte to slightly glossy finish
Bloom time: Mid to late spring
Light: Partial shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; remove spent flowers; prune lightly after bloom as needed
Growing zone: USDA zones 7 to 9
Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and other pollinators; dense evergreen structure provides shelter and cover for birds and small wildlife

Shrubs

Rhododendron augustinii

Augustine's Rhododendron

Rhododendron augustinii is an evergreen shrub known for its graceful habit and narrow, elongated leaves with a soft green surface. In mid to late spring, it produces loose trusses of funnel-shaped flowers, most often in clear lavender-blue to violet-blue shades, with a darker purple blotch near the center. The flowers are borne freely across the plant, creating a light, airy floral display that pairs well with the refined foliage.

Light

Partial shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Mid to late spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Shade Gardens
Foundation Plantings
Cottage Gardens
Woodland Gardens

Companion plants

Skimmia · Japanese forest grass · Epimedium · Pieris · Trillium · Foamflower

Design tip

Make the unusual lavender-blue flowers of Augustine’s rhododendron a highlight in the spring garden by giving it some breathing room rather than crowding it among other flowering shrubs. Its open, graceful shape looks especially natural near the edge of a woodland planting.