NZ's Leading Rhododendron Specialist

Nurturing Beautiful Rhododendrons for Your Garden

Hi, I’m Lisa, and Rhododendrons are my passion. At RhodoDirect, our West Melton nursery is open to the public, offering the chance to explore our beautiful display garden and shop a wide variety of rhododendrons and azaleas. For over 20 years, we’ve been proudly supplying gardeners across New Zealand with top-quality plants to brighten their gardens.

A Blooming Lineup

Race Day fever has hit Christchurch, and we’re bringing the excitement straight to your garden, all November long! And yes, we are open Show Weekend too! In celebration of Cup & Show Week, we’ve curated our own lineup of race-ready rhododendrons, each with show-stopping colours and race-inspired names — all set to compete in the RhodoDirect Blooming Cup.

Discover our Rhodo Direct T-shirt, showcasing a stunning design of large pink flowers with dark centers and light green leaves. Perfect for adding a touch of nature-inspired elegance to your wardrobe. Visit our home page for more delightful designs.

1. Bud Flanagan

Lisa’s Tips: Vigorous hardy late season performer

Winning Characteristics:

Has strong reddish-purple buds open to a very soft mauve flower. At the centre of each flower is a large dark deep flare. Hardy and vigorous growing. Height 2m. Flowering in Late October.

This T-shirt design from Rhodo Direct features a vibrant pattern of red flowers and green leaves on a crisp white background, making it a perfect choice to stand out on your home page or any casual outing.

2. Betsie Balcom

Lisa’s Tips: Shines as a mid-to-late season star!

Winning Characteristics:

Funnel-shaped flowers, with a currant-red at edge, fading slightly at throat. New growth tinged red. Plant rounded, branching well. Height 1.2m Flowering November.

Discover our exclusive Rhodo Direct t-shirt, featuring a bold print of pink and white flowers. Perfect for adding a touch of nature to your ensemble. Visit our Home Page to explore this unique design and more.

3. Unique

Lisa’s Tips: Perfect for shaded garden areas!

Winning Characteristics:

Fantastic all round performer for flower and foliage. Beautiful buttery cream flowers smother the plant with a pinkish bud to begin with. Height 1.2m. Flowering in Early October.

Discover our T-shirt adorned with vivid pink and white trumpet-shaped flowers, exclusively featured on Rhodo Direct.

4. Melrose Flash

Lisa’s Tips: Locally born and bred

Winning Characteristics:

This is a beautiful bi coloured rhodo of pink, white and yellow Stunning foliage that is wider than it is tall. Will grow to 1.5m. Flowers in November.

T-shirt with a vibrant design featuring large, deep red flowers and lush green leaves, exclusively available at Rhodo Direct for a limited time.

5. Black Sport

Lisa’s Tips: Prepare to be captivated

Winning Characteristics:

Black Sport produces deep magenta flowers with an almost black eye. The deepness of the colour gives the flowers a rich, silky appearance. Height 1.5m Flowers in November. This rhodo regularly flowers in Autumn as a second flowering.

A t-shirt showcasing a close-up design of pink and orange flowers with visible stamens, perfect for adding a touch of nature's beauty straight from Rhodo Direct.

6. Ostbo Low Yellow

Lisa’s Tips: Allure remains a charming mystery!

Winning Characteristics:

Funnel-shaped flowers with pink buds that open to cream/yellow/apricot flowers, with an apricot orange center. Held in loose trusses. Extremely cold hardy. Height 1.2m. Flowering in November.

A white rhododendron flower, reminiscent of a bespoke T-shirt from Rhodo Direct, blooms elegantly.

7.Pawushka

Lisa’s Tips: Testament to nature’s artistry!

Winning Characteristics:

Rhododendron Pawhuska has showy white flowers appear from a hint of blush buds. Tall trusses, large glossy green foliage. Sun tolerant rhodo. Height 2m. Flowering in November.

A T-shirt featuring an image of vibrant pink flowers, perfect for showcasing on the Rhodo Direct home page.

8. Hearts Delight

Lisa’s Tips: Strong robust plant with flowers to match

Winning Characteristics:

Rhododendron Hearts Delight is a strong growing rhododendron with dark green leathery leaves. Flowers are a very dark pink almost red. Flowering in October. Height 1.5m.

Browse Shop

Around the Nursery

Rhodo Walk

Did you know at Rhodo Direct we have a gorgeous display garden that is open to the public?

A large deciduous azalea shrub with clusters of white and pink flowers, surrounded by lush green leaves, features prominently in the garden setting.

Explore a serene garden with blooming purple and white flowers, verdant green shrubs, and majestic trees standing proudly under a clear blue sky—a picturesque scene reminiscent of Rachel's curated landscapes for Rhodo Direct.

Rachel's garden showcases pink and white rhododendron flowers, a charming pathway, and elegant potted plants in the background. Perfect for Rhodo Direct enthusiasts!

A variety of flowering plants in pots under a wooden pergola create a stunning display at the garden center, reminiscent of the lush selections you'd find on Rhodo Direct's Home Page.

Potted pink and white flowering plants from Rhodo Direct create a charming display on a pallet in an outdoor garden center, perfect for brightening up any home page.

Rhodo Direct's nursery showcases vibrant pink and white flowering plants in pots, all elegantly arranged under a wooden pergola, perfect for inspiration on your home page.

A vibrant garden with various colorful flowering shrubs and a narrow path under a clear blue sky, reminiscent of a scene from Rhodo Direct's stunning Home Page.

November's Growing Guide

A time for routine maintenance

As we head out of spring leading into summer the temperatures rise, November is a critical month for rhododendrons in New Zealand. Here’s what you should focus on to ensure your plants thrive:

Watering, de-heading, mulching, fertilising, pest & disease watch and planting new rhodos.

Unfortunately there isnt enough room to cover everything off on the home page, but head over to our Newsletter Archive for the full list, or read through the individual sections of our FAQ. By staying on top of these tasks in November, you’ll set your rhododendrons up for a stunning summer bloom and healthy growth throughout the season.

Read FAQs

A close-up of a leafy plant showcases green leaves basking under sunlight, with some brown, withered flowers adding contrast. This vibrant image could enhance any garden section on Rhodo Direct's Home Page, exemplifying the beauty of nature even in its imperfections.

Watch De-heading Video

Customer Reviews

I found you to be so helpful. You really were! It is not often that people call and answer questions and spend the extra effort in helping others obtain just what they are looking for. You certainly were clear, communicated well about delivery times, and above all helpful in every way.

~ Annie

Your plants are the best rhodos I have seen for a VERY long time, and represent very good value for money

~ Ross

We have been delighted to receive two consignments from you in the past month, each of 6 rhododendrons. In both instances, your plants have travelled 538 km totally reliably within two days - arriving still moist, with foliage gratifyingly undamaged and just begging to be let out of their cartons to start new lives. Thank you for the considerable time you spend ensuring that your rhodos reach us in such pristine condition

~ Jo & Richard

We are 1st-time customers. We want to thank your staff who we dealt with in our recent purchase. They arrived today in great condition and so quickly delivered to our door.

~ Dawn & Dave

Thank you so much for the advice in your newsletter- very timely as I was asking myself all those questions about fertilising and pruning. It's great to be reminded in the season too.

~ Briar

Your information and help were great, nothing was a problem and the extra lengths that you went to oblige us was fantastic. We have no hesitation in recommending Rhodo Direct to anyone wanting that special Rhodo.

~ Brenda & Willy

Behind the Scenes

Over the past month, we’ve had the pleasure of working with Anne Gane, a talented florist you can see at the upcoming Rakaia Fete. Anne has been helping us bring our beautiful rhododendrons into unique table settings. While rhododendrons aren’t often used in floral design, their vibrant colours, unique textures, and striking blooms make them an exceptional choice for standout centrepieces. The results have been nothing short of spectacular!

A wooden tray from Rhodo Direct holds purple flowers, green leaves, woven balls, and birch branches on a wooden table.

Fastuosum Flore Pleno

On the Home Page, a bouquet of pink and white flowers with dark green leaves graces a wooden table in a clear vase.

Chemanius

Pink flowers and green leaves are elegantly arranged on white birch branches, creating a stunning display reminiscent of a Rhodo Direct centerpiece, set upon a dark surface.

Mrs GW Leak

A floral arrangement in a white vase with purple, green, and white flowers graces a wooden table, embodying the elegance of Rhodo Direct. On the wall behind, two framed pictures add charm to your home page decor.

Susan

A floral arrangement from Rhodo Direct showcases white and pale pink flowers with green leaves and branches, all elegantly presented in a round bowl on a white surface.

Blunique

A woven basket with a handle, filled with pink flowers and green leaves from Rhodo Direct, sits elegantly on a wooden surface.

Lems Cameo

White flowers with green leaves are elegantly arranged in a glass vase, creating a serene visual perfect for showcasing on the Rhodo Direct home page, all against a plain background.

Canary Song

A charming ring-shaped, rustic wooden floral arrangement featuring white chrysanthemums and vibrant red flowers graces the table, capturing the essence of Rhodo Direct's Home Page aesthetic.

Olin O Dobbs

Pale pink rhododendron blooms inside a moss-covered circular frame on a wooden surface, capturing the serene essence of nature featured on the Rhodo Direct home page.

Wind River

A Rhodo Direct pink flower arrangement sits beautifully in a rustic, moss-covered basket on a wooden table, bringing an elegant touch to any home page setting.

Midnight

Their bold petals and intricate structure add an unexpected touch of elegance and charm, proving that these beautiful flowers can truly shine in any setting. Whether in bud or full bloom, rhododendrons bring a fresh, nature-inspired appeal to your table, elevating any occasion with their unique beauty.

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NZ's Leading Rhododendron Specialist

Nurturing Beautiful Rhododendrons for Your Garden

A Blooming Lineup

Around the Nursery

November's Growing Guide

Customer Reviews

Behind the Scenes

Follow us.

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About Us

Rhododendron Shop

Expert Advice