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Key characteristics

Family: Ericaceae
Height: 4 to 6 feet
Width: 4 to 6 feet
Flower color: Soft pink to pale lavender
Foliage color: Glossy, dark green
Bloom time: Late December through February
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Water: Regular
Maintenance: Pruning to maintain shape
Growing zone: 6 to 9
Wildlife: The fragrant flowers may attract pollinators

Shrubs

Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’

Christmas Cheer Rhododendron

Rhododendron 'Christmas Cheer' is a beautiful evergreen shrub prized for its ability to bloom during the holiday season, typically from late December through February, hence its festive name. The flowers are the highlight of the plant, featuring clusters of small, bell-shaped blossoms that range in color from soft pink to pale lavender, and they are highly fragrant, adding an extra sensory dimension to the garden.

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Water

Regular

Bloom time

Late December through February

Find this plant

Works well in

Shade Gardens
Borders
Cottage Gardens
Woodland Gardens

Companion plants

Pieris · Hakone grass · Bamboo · Viburnum · Snowdrop · Bergenia

Design tip

Choose a spot near a winter-viewed window or entry where ‘Christmas Cheer’ can make its unusually early flowering season more noticeable. Bringing it close to areas used during colder months also makes its fragrance easier to enjoy when little else is blooming.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)