Deep violet-purple flowers with dramatic dark blotches open in late spring, one of the most saturated purples in the genus. Rhododendron 'Purple Passion' grows 5 to 6 feet tall and wide in part shade, hardy from Zone 5 through Zone 8.
The habit is compact and vigorous, filling out faster than most rhododendrons this size.
The large-leaf rhododendrons hold their foliage year-round rather than thinning like the small-leaved types. Below about 25 degrees the leaves droop and curl up, curling tighter the colder it gets, and they open again within hours once temperatures rise. It looks alarming the first winter and it is entirely normal, a water-conserving response rather than a sign of trouble.
Acidic soil is necessary, roughly pH 4.5 to 6.0, with good drainage and steady moisture. Mulch the shallow roots.