Photo courtesy of Spotswood Greenery
Photo courtesy of Spotswood Greenery
Photo courtesy of Spotswood Greenery
Rhododendron X PJM Elite
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Vibrant lavender-pink flowers open in early spring, weeks ahead of the large-leaf rhododendrons, against small aromatic leaves. Rhododendron 'PJM Elite' grows 4 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide in part shade, hardy from Zone 4 through Zone 8.
Elite was selected from the original PJM group for heavier flowering and a deeper flower color, and it holds a tighter, more compact shape than the parent.
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 4'- 5' Spread 3'- 4'
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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