GardenWizzPlant Care Card

Purplish-Blue Rhododendron

Rhododendron russatum · Shrub

Hardiness
H6 Hardy — very cold winter (to −20 to −15°C)
Position
Full sun, Partial shade
Height × Spread
100–150 cm × —
Soil
acid soils with a pH of roughly 4.5–5.5; well-drained soils high in organic material
Flowering
April–May
Toxicity
poisonous to grazing animals because of a toxin called grayanotoxin in their pollen and nectar; extremely toxic to horses

The Gardening Year

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🌸 In flower

Watch out for

Vine weevil: Apply biological nematodes to the soil in spring and autumn or use approved chemical controls.

Powdery mildew: Improve air circulation and apply a fungicide if infection is severe; avoid wetting foliage.

Bud blast: Remove and destroy infected buds promptly to prevent spread; improve site drainage.

Pieris lacebug: Encourage natural predators or apply a systemic insecticide if infestations are heavy.

Rhododendron leafhopper: Monitor for nymphs in spring and treat with appropriate insecticides if necessary.

Full guide: gardenwizz.com/plants/rhododendron-russatum © GardenWizz — UK gardening encyclopedia