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Key characteristics

Family: Ericaceae
Height: 3 to 4 feet
Width: 3 to 4 feet
Flower color: Soft pink to bright magenta pink flowers with a darker maroon blotch in the throat
Foliage color: Dark green leathery elliptic leaves
Bloom time: Mid spring; often April to May
Light: Partial shade
Water: Average evenly moist well drained acidic soil; prefers consistent moisture
Maintenance: Low; remove spent flower trusses after blooming and prune lightly if needed to maintain shape
Growing zone: USDA zones 7 to 9
Wildlife: Bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects

Shrubs

Rhododendron 'Marissa'

Marissa Rhododendron

Rhododendron 'Marissa' produces rounded trusses of soft pink to medium pink flowers in mid to late spring, each bloom showing gentle variation in tone with slightly deeper pink along the petal edges. The blossoms are held above the foliage and create a full seasonal display. Leathery evergreen leaves cover the stems, displaying deep green surfaces that form a dense, polished canopy throughout the year.

This cultivar traces its heritage to hybrid rhododendrons developed for ornamental gardens.

Light

Partial shade

Water

Average evenly moist well drained acidic soil; prefers consistent moisture

Bloom time

Mid spring; often April to May

Find this plant

Works well in

Shade Gardens
Borders
Cottage Gardens
Woodland Gardens

Companion plants

Daphnes · Hydrangea · Coral bells · Solomon's seal · Oxalis · Hellebore

Design tip

Group ‘Marissa’ with shrubs that flower earlier or later, allowing its pink blooms to carry color through the middle of the spring display. Its compact scale helps maintain a layered arrangement without leaving an awkward gap once the flowers have faded.