Rhododendron catawbiense 'Roseum Elegans'
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Lavender-pink flowers cover this shrub in late spring, one of the most widely planted rhododendrons in the country and still one of the toughest. Rhododendron catawbiense 'Roseum Elegans' grows 7 to 8 feet tall and wide in part shade, hardy from Zone 4 through Zone 8.
Cold hardiness to Zone 4 combined with genuine heat tolerance is what has kept it in the trade for well over a century.
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 size makes it a screen or a hedge rather than a foundation shrub, and it fills space quickly. Acidic soil is necessary, roughly pH 4.5 to 6.0, with good drainage and steady moisture. Mulch the shallow roots.
Height 7'- 8' Spread 7'- 8'
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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