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Rhododendron 'Pohjola's Daughter'
$17.95 ea
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Rhododendron 'Northern Hi-Lights'
$16.95 ea $13.56 ea
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Rhododendron 'My Mary'
$27.95 ea $22.36 ea
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Rhododendron 'Lemon Lights'
$16.95 ea $11.87 ea
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Rhododendron 'Lemon Dream'
$18.95 ea $13.27 ea
Rhododendron 'Polarnacht'
Early "black" buds open to deep purple blooms.
Living up to the German roots of its name, this unique shrub's flower buds are such a rich dark purple that they look almost as dark as "nacht" or "night." The buds arrive early, and once they're open, the deep purple, ruffled blooms with spotted red throats, which appear in trusses of 12-14, are set artistically against the clean, dark green, evergreen foliage. The foliage is resistant to purple foliage leaf spot, a trait that is difficult to come by and which will make 'Polarnacht' very popular to Zone 6!
'Polarnacht' matures into a compact habit that's almost twice as wide as it is high, reaching 3'x6' in around 10 years. Combine rich mid- to late-season color with ease of care, and you have a variety that's sure to be popular with both seasoned Rhododendron growers and newcomers alike. Zones 5-8.
| Genus | Rhododendron |
| Variety | 'Polarnacht' |
| Bloom Season | Late Spring - Early Summer |
| Zone | 5 - 8 |
| Plant Height | 3 ft |
| Plant Width | 6 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.
