Rhododendron dauricum
Family: Ericaceae
Pronounced: ro-do-DEN-dron DAWR-ih-kum
Quick Jumps
Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes
GROWING GUIDE
Origin:
East Asia.
Plant Group:
Shrubs.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: Not listed.
USDA zones: 4-8.
Heat zones: 8-1.
Mature size:
Height: 5-7 feet (1.5-2 m).
Width: 4-5 feet (1.2-1.5 m).
Flowering period:
January.
Flowering attributes:
Small trusses of funnel-shaped, reddish purple flowers.
Leaf attributes:
Small, elliptic, semi evergreen leaves that are scaley underneath.
Light:
Partial shade to full sun.
Soil:
Humus rich, well-drained, acidic soil.
Propagation Methods:
Sow ripe seed or seed in early spring.
Semi-ripe cuttings in late summer to autumn.
Layer in fall.
Graft in late winter or late summer.
Pruning Methods:
Lightly prune for symmetry after the shrub has finished flowering; rarely needs pruning.
Rainy Side Notes
I rate this Rhododendron as one of the top best flowers for winter. After Christmas when the lights come down and our gray Northwest sky makes our region appear lifeless, these, reddish-purple flowers bring some much-needed colors!
It's hard to photograph the flower color on this shrub and get it just right. No matter though, because winter becomes brighter around these Rhododendrons when they are in full bloom! Mine reliably flowers every winter in January, a welcome sight that signals winter is nearly halfway behind us. Although the flowers have no fragrance that I’ve noticed, there are enough Sarcococca shrubs planted around the garden to fill the garden with fragrant ambience. Visually, the winter-flowering rhododendrons steal the show from January into February. The rest of the year they remain unobtrusive, I forget they are even there.
The shrub's height is said to be around five feet tall, yet one of the two I have in the garden is seven feet tall and a bit gangly. The other one shares space under a Cornus capitata tree and barely reaches three feet high. If you go for the average height of my two, I guess that averages out to five. But seriously, there are dwarf forms that have been introduced from Japan that are used frequently for Bonzai. I've noticed some dwarf forms in the Rhododendron Species Foundations offerings where I purchased mine. I just may have one. Whatever the size, they are great plants in the landscape.
Considered a true rhododendron, this shrub is one of the few exceptions to the rule that a true rhody is evergreen. In the Northwest they tend to be semi evergreen and it is strange to see new leaves coming onto the shrub in January, contrasting the older, darker foliage.
Variations and hybrids:
- album — white flowers with no markings.
- 'Arctic Pearl' — white flowers
- 'Madison Snow' — white flowers, prolificate bloomer
- 'Mid-Winter' — very similiar to the species.
- var. sempervirens — evergreen foliage
Debbie Teashon
Photographed in author's garden.
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton