Photo courtesy of Spotswood Greenery
Photo courtesy of Spotswood Greenery
Rhododendron catawbiense Boursault
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Lilac-purple flowers open in large clusters on a vigorous shrub 6 to 7 feet tall and wide. Rhododendron catawbiense 'Boursault' grows in part shade to full shade, hardy from Zone 4 through Zone 8.
Of the old catawbiense hybrids, this is the one that will grow almost anywhere. It handles deep shade, exposed sun, wind, heat, and cold to Zone 4, and it keeps flowering reliably through all of it rather than skipping a season after a hard winter or a dry summer. When a site has defeated other rhododendrons, this is the one to try next.
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.
The foliage is broad and dark green, and the plant fills space quickly enough to work as a screen or an informal hedge. Acidic soil is necessary, roughly pH 4.5 to 6.0, with good drainage and steady moisture. Mulch the shallow roots.
Height 6'- 7' Spread 6'- 7'
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8
Lowest Temperatures -30°F to -20°F
Part shade to full shade - less than 3 hours of direct sun, or dappled light through the day
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