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Key characteristics

Family: Ericaceae
Height: 3 to 4 feet
Width: 3 to 4 feet
Flower color: Purple to rose lavender funnel shaped flowers
Foliage color: Dark green small oblong to elliptic leaves with a rusty brown to fawn indumentum on the undersides
Bloom time: Mid spring; often April to May
Light: Partial shade to dappled sun
Water: Average evenly moist soil
Maintenance: Low; remove spent flower trusses after blooming and prune lightly to maintain a compact shape
Growing zone: USDA zones 7 to 9
Wildlife: Bees and other pollinating insects

Shrubs

Rhododendron yungningense

Yungning Rhododendron

Rhododendron yungningense produces small clusters of funnel-shaped flowers in early to mid spring, the blooms opening in shades of rose-purple to deep violet with occasional lavender tones. The blossoms appear near the branch tips and often partially conceal the foliage during peak bloom. Small, oblong leaves line the stems, displaying deep green upper surfaces and a covering of fine rust-colored scales beneath that add texture and subtle contrast.

Light

Partial shade to dappled sun

Water

Average evenly moist soil

Bloom time

Mid spring; often April to May

Find this plant

Works well in

Shade Gardens
Borders
Containers
Woodland Gardens

Companion plants

Leucothoe · Solomon’s seal · Bergenia · Japanese plum yew · Hosta · Snowdrops

Design tip

Allow Rhododendron yungningense to mingle with other compact shrubs near the front of a layered planting, where its fine-textured foliage will remain visible. Its modest scale makes it especially useful for easing the transition between low groundcovers and larger shrubs behind it.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)