1 / 5

Key characteristics

Family: Ericaceae
Height: 10 to 15 ft
Width: 10 to 15 ft
Flower color: Soft pink to pale rose flowers with darker pink or reddish spotting near the throat
Foliage color: Deciduous medium green leaves arranged in distinctive whorls, turning yellow to bronze in fall
Bloom time: Early to mid spring
Light: Full sun to part shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low to moderate; prune lightly after flowering only if shaping is needed
Growing zone: USDA zones 4 to 7
Wildlife: Fragrant shows of spring flowers attract pollinators

Shrubs

Rhododendron schlippenbachii

Royal Azalea

Rhododendron schlippenbachii is a deciduous azalea admired for early-season bloom and lush foliage. In spring, usually April into May, lightly fragrant, saucer-shaped flowers open pale pink to light rose, often with small red spots on the upper petals. Flowers appear as leaves begin to unfurl, creating a soft canopy of color along the branch tips.

Native primarily to Korea and adjacent parts of northeast China and the Russian Far East, it was first brought to wider botanical attention after collections made in Korea.

Light

Full sun to part shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Early to mid spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Sun Gardens
Foundation Plantings
Cottage Gardens
Specimen Plants

Companion plants

Tulips · Bluebeard · Feverfew · Larkspur · Sea thrifts · Beautyberry

Design tip

Allow Rhododendron schlippenbachii room to develop as a focal shrub, where its open deciduous framework will contrast with denser evergreens nearby. Its changing seasonal presence makes it especially effective in plantings designed to evolve noticeably from spring through autumn.