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Rhododendron 'Hellikki'
$16.95 ea $13.56 ea
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Rhododendron cinnabarinum
$18.95 ea
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Rhododendron 'Capistrano'
As low as $27.95 ea $25.16 ea
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Rhododendron canescens 'Camilla's Blush'
$27.95 ea $22.36 ea
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Rhododendron 'Anna H Hall'
$26.95 ea
Rhododendron 'Helsinki University'
Evergreen foliage emerges tinged with red.
It may hail from Finland, but this super-hardy shrub is making itself right at home here in the USA. Its large trusses of bright pink, red-orange-speckled, lightly scented blooms appear in late spring, immediately grabbing the attention of every passerby. The flowers emerge from distinctive rose buds that are just a hint of the show to come!
The dense, evergreen foliage emerges tinged with red, maturing to a rich, glossy green. Its multi-stemmed habit takes on a more or less rounded form, and its somewhat course texture means it makes a lovely contrast to plants with finer foliage. With an upright habit and a promise of alluring late-spring color, this evergreen is sure to become a popular selection for foundation plantings from one side of the country to the other.
'Helsinki University' is a relatively low-maintenance shrub and only needs to be pruned after flowering. It does need well-drained, highly acidic, organic soil and likes plenty of peat moss when it's planted. This rhodo has a low canopy and tends to grow pretty slowly, eventually reaching a width of 3-4' and a height of 4-6.' Treat it well, and this lovely shrub could very well live for 30 years!
Plant in full sun to partial shade and provide evenly moist, well-drained soil. Do not allow it to be in standing water! Consider putting down a thick mulch in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder areas. Zones 4-8.
| Genus | Rhododendron |
| Variety | 'Helsinki University' |
| Bloom Season | Late Spring |
| Zone | 4 - 8 |
| Plant Height | 4 ft - 6 ft |
| Plant Width | 3 ft - 4 ft |
| Item Form | 1-Quart |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun, Part Shade |
| Restrictions | CAN, HI, PR |
Azaleas and Rhododendrons have been interbred since the first plants were scooped out of the dirt, and for a while these "crossbreeds" were even referred to by some ghastly name — Azaleodendrons or the like.
The old rule of thumb used to be that azaleas are deciduous and rhododendrons evergreen, but if that was ever true, it isn't anymore.
The differences between the two are slight, so slight in fact that botanists do not break them into the two groups that gardeners have come to know. Rhododendrons have 10 stamens per flower, while Azaleas have only five. While both can be deciduous, that trait is typically seen more in Azaleas than Rhododendrons. The shape of the leaves is often another indicator, with larger, paddle-shaped leaves typical of Rhododendrons, Azaleas often have smaller, elliptical leaves and trumpet, or tubular-shaped flowers at the ends of the shoots.
