Rhododendron 'Olga Mezitt'
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Clear pink flowers open profusely in spring above small aromatic leaves, heavy enough to cover the plant. Rhododendron 'Olga Mezitt' grows 5 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide in part shade, hardy from Zone 4 through Zone 8.
The pink is clean and unshaded rather than lavender-leaning, which sets it apart from most of the PJM types.
The small-leaved rhododendrons, sometimes called lepidotes, differ from the big-leaf types in more than size. They flower earlier, take more sun, handle cold better, and the foliage turns mahogany or plum through winter instead of staying green. The leaves are aromatic, releasing a spicy scent when brushed. In colder gardens they behave as semi-evergreens, dropping a share of the older interior leaves over winter while holding the newer growth at the branch tips. That thinning is normal and the plant refoliates in spring.
Acidic soil is necessary, roughly pH 4.5 to 6.0, with good drainage. Mulch the shallow roots.
Height 5'- 6' Spread 4'- 5'
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8
Lowest Temperatures -30°F to -20°F
Part shade - 4 to 6 hours of direct sun per day, mostly before midday
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