Carolina Rhododendron (Punctatum)

Carolina rhododendron is one of the most compact and garden-worthy of all native North American rhododendrons — a small-leaved, dense, evergreen shrub from the high-elevation heath balds and rocky slopes of the southern Appalachians that produces masses of rose-pink to white flower clusters in April and May that can cover the entire plant in bloom. It is notably more heat-tolerant, drought-adaptable, and pest-resistant than the large-leaved rhododendrons (R. maximum and R. catawbiense) and adapts to typical garden conditions more readily; its compact size (2–6 feet) makes it appropriate for small-space native gardens and foundation plantings where large rhododendrons would overwhelm the space. The tiny, dark-spotted dots (puncta) on the leaf undersides give it the alternate name 'punctatum' and help identify it in the field; the small, leathery evergreen leaves roll upward in cold temperatures as a water-conservation mechanism, creating a distinctive winter appearance. One of the best native rhododendrons for shaded rockeries, acidic slopes, and native woodland gardens in the mid-Atlantic and upper South. Спосіб посадки: Висадка розсади Відстань між рослинами: 36–60 дюймів Висота: 24–72 дюймів Дні до схожості: 14–30 Температура ґрунту для схожості: 13–18°C

Carolina rhododendron is one of the most compact and garden-worthy of all native North American rhododendrons — a small-leaved, dense, evergreen shrub from the high-elevation heath balds and rocky slopes of the southern Appalachians that produces masses of rose-pink to white flower clusters in April and May that can cover the entire plant in bloom. It is notably more heat-tolerant, drought-adaptable, and pest-resistant than the large-leaved rhododendrons (R. maximum and R. catawbiense) and adapts to typical garden conditions more readily; its compact size (2–6 feet) makes it appropriate for small-space native gardens and foundation plantings where large rhododendrons would overwhelm the space. The tiny, dark-spotted dots (puncta) on the leaf undersides give it the alternate name 'punctatum' and help identify it in the field; the small, leathery evergreen leaves roll upward in cold temperatures as a water-conservation mechanism, creating a distinctive winter appearance. One of the best native rhododendrons for shaded rockeries, acidic slopes, and native woodland gardens in the mid-Atlantic and upper South. Спосіб посадки: Висадка розсади Відстань між рослинами: 36–60 дюймів Висота: 24–72 дюймів Дні до схожості: 14–30 Температура ґрунту для схожості: 13–18°C --- Час посадки: -8–-4 тижнів осіння посадка Plant container-grown shrubs in fall in moist, acidic (pH 4.5–5.5), well-drained, humus-rich soil in partial shade; Carolina rhododendron is more drought tolerant than most rhododendrons but still requires consistently moist, acidic soil — mulch heavily to maintain moisture and protect shallow roots.