1 / 4Key characteristics
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Height
- 6 to 8 ft
- Width
- 3 to 5 ft
- Flower color
- White to blush pink with red spotting in the throat
- Foliage color
- Evergreen rich green narrow leaves
- Bloom time
- Late spring to early summer
- Light
- Part shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; minimal pruning needed beyond light shaping after flowering
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 7 to 9
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract pollinators; evergreen foliage provides shelter and cover for birds and small wildlife
Shrubs
Rhododendron yunnanense
Yunnan Rhododendron
Rhododendron yunnanense is an evergreen rhododendron with neat, elliptic leaves and a twiggy, upright habit. In late spring, usually May into June, it produces small trusses of open, funnel-shaped flowers that range from white to soft pink or lavender, often marked with red spotting or a darker blotch in the throat.
It is native to mountainous regions of southwestern China and nearby areas, including Yunnan, Sichuan, and parts of Myanmar.
Works well in
- Shade Gardens
- Foundation Plantings
- Pathways & Walkways
- Woodland Gardens
Companion plants
Pieris · Japanese forest grass · Brunnera · Viburnum · Trillium · Lungwort
Design tip
Balance the narrow, upright growth of Rhododendron yunnanense with lower, broader shrubs nearby, creating a gradual change in shape across the planting. Its relatively slender footprint also makes it useful where vertical presence is needed without occupying excessive garden space.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.
More shrubs
Ribes sanguineum
Red Flowering Currant
Blooms deep pink to red drooping clusters of tubular flowers, sometimes white or pale pink forms
Full sun to partial shade
Hydrangea serrata ‘Kiyosumi’
Kiyosumi Lacecap Hydrangea
Blooms pink to red outer sterile florets with small white or pale pink inner fertile flowers
Partial shade to full sun
Rhododendron degronianum
Degronianum Rhododendron
Blooms pale pink-to-white flowers, sometimes with subtle red spotting
Full sun to part shade
Rhododendron moupinense
Moupinense Rhododendron
Blooms white to soft pink, often flushed deeper pink in bud; may have red to purple spotting or blotches
Full sun to part shade