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Rhododendron 'Temple Belle'
$26.95 ea
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Rhododendron 'Solidarity'
$24.95 ea
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Rhododendron 'Sapporo'
$17.95 ea $14.36 ea
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Rhododendron 'Polarnacht'
$17.95 ea $14.36 ea
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Rhododendron 'Pohjola's Daughter'
$17.95 ea
Rhododendron yakushimanum 'Yaku Prince'
Huge clusters of blooms in late spring.
Reaching 3 to 4 feet in height in 10 years, 'Yaku Prince' is a very well-branched, dense little shrub, its impact greater than its size might suggest. In addition to the magnificent blooms, it offers deep green foliage coated with a light brown down (indumentum) on the undersides, producing a suede-like effect.
Open woodland conditions are ideal for this hard-to-find and exceptionally hardy Rhododendron. Light, well-drained, moist soil high in organics and somewhat acidic works best. Site it in dappled shade or, in northerly climates, nearly full sun. Avoid excessively wet or dry soils that don't "breathe", as well as exposure to desiccating sun in the south and wind in the north. Plant shallowly and mulch. Don't cultivate to retain moisture and control weeds.
Rhododendron can be pushed a zone colder, provided it is sheltered and kept covered by snow during winter cold snaps to preserve its buds, which develop the previous year. Zones 5-8.
| Genus | Rhododendron |
| Species | yakushimanum |
| Variety | 'Yaku Prince' |
| Bloom Season | Late Spring |
| Zone | 5 - 8 |
| Plant Height | 3 ft |
| Plant Width | 4 ft |
| Item Form | Trade Gallon (3qt) |
| Additional Characteristics | Flower |
| Bloom Color | Light Pink |
| Foliage Color | Dark Green |
| Light Requirements | Part Shade, Shade |
| Soil Tolerance | Normal, loamy |
| Uses | Ornamental |
| Restrictions | CAN, HI, PR, WA |
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.
