Plant Database

Description:

A very compact, mounded dwarf variety with stunning pale yellow-green flowers in mid to late spring; perfect for rock gardens or small borders; absolutely must have well-drained, highly acidic and organic soil, use plenty of peat moss when planting

Ornamental Features

Shamrock Rhododendron is covered in stunning clusters of chartreuse trumpet-shaped flowers at the ends of the branches from mid to late spring. It has green evergreen foliage. The small narrow leaves remain green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Shamrock Rhododendron is an open multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Shamrock Rhododendron is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Shamrock Rhododendron will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. It has a low canopy. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. You may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.