Most Rhododendrons do best in cool summer climates and prefer some shade. Soil should be hummusy and acidic.
Although rhododendrons will not tolerate stagnant soil moisture, they are shallow rooted and the roots may dry out during the summer even though deeper rooted plants show no signs of drought stress. Therefore, rhododendrons should be well watered during the summer, especially the first year after planting when the roots have not yet gotten out of the original root ball and into the surrounding soil.
A year-round mulch of some type of organic matter is desirable to conserve moisture and eliminate the need for cultivation. Because of their shallow roots, little or no cultivation should be done around rhododendrons. Weeds should be carefully pulled, or in extreme cases shaved off with a sharp hoe. A fairly deep mulch of leaves, pine needles, chips, bark or other organic material will practically eliminate weed growth.2
These estimates for how long Hybrid rhododendron takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.
Average days | Min days | Max days (0)
Average days | Min days | Max days (0)
Average days | Min days | Max days (0)
Azalea