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Key characteristics

Family: Ericaceae
Height: 3 to 4 ft
Width: 3 to 4 ft
Flower color: Vivid reddish-purple to magenta blossoms, often with a darker blotch in the throat
Foliage color: Evergreen, glossy small green leaves
Bloom time: Mid to late spring (May)
Light: Part shade to filtered sun
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low to moderate; deadhead spent flowers and prune lightly only to remove dead wood
Growing zone: USDA zones 5a to 9b
Wildlife: Spring flowers attract bees and other pollinators; evergreen structure offers shelter and cover for small birds and other garden wildlife

Shrubs

Rhododendron 'Sherwood Orchid'

Sherwood Orchid Azalea

Rhododendron 'Sherwood Orchid' is an evergreen azalea with a dense, rounded growth habit and glossy, small dark-green leaves that provide year-round interest. In mid to late spring, it blooms with single flowers in rich reddish-purple or magenta tones, each marked by a darker blotch near the center. The blossoms often appear in clusters and brighten woodland borders, foundation plantings, or shaded garden beds when many shrubs are still dormant.

Light

Part shade to filtered sun

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Mid to late spring (May)

Find this plant

Works well in

Shade Gardens
Borders
Containers
Woodland Gardens

Companion plants

Daphne · Brunnera · Tiarella · Camellia · Bleeding heart · Hellebore

Design tip

Repeat ‘Sherwood Orchid’ through the front of a shaded shrub planting to carry its rounded form across the garden. Its intense magenta flowers work best among quieter neighbors, where the spring display can command attention without competing with other saturated colors.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)