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.

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2025 New Releases

It’s exciting to see some of our own cuttings ready for sale! We’re thrilled to introduce a selection of new varieties that have never been available at RhodoDirect before 🌸

1. Rocket

Rhododendron Rocket flower is very frilly, vivid reddish-pink blotched scarlet red with prominent protruding stamens Height 1.5m Flowering in October.

2. Sarita Loder

Forms a large, rounded shrub, wider than tall in open spaces, with neat grey-green leaves. Deep crimson buds open to stunning salmon-pink flowers with darker central stripes.

3. September Snow

Experience the beauty of September Snow Rhododendron, a lovely compact plant adorned with masses of creamy white flowers accented by brown stamens.

4. Opal Fawcett

Rhododendron 'Opal Fawcett' features large, round trusses of pale pink flowers that fade to white, with a light fragrance.

5. Fred Hamilton

Fred Hamilton is an evergreen shrub with dark-green foliage and vivid yellow spring flowers. Prefers dappled sun and well-draining, acidic soil.

6. Coral Skies

Rhododendron 'Coral Skies' features large, coral pink, reflexed flowers with a rose-coloured throat. Growing to 1.2 meters, it’s perfect for smaller gardens and containers.

7. Razzle Dazzle

White blooms edged in soft pink with striking red blotches make this evergreen shrub a standout. Flowering in mid to late season, it thrives in part shade with moist, well-drained soil.

8. Augustinii Medlicott

Soft lavender-blue flowers with a vibrant green eye bloom beautifully on this plant. It features an upright growth habit, making it a striking addition to gardens and landscapes.

Browse New Releases

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.

2024 Top Online Buys

If you missed our socials post, here is a look at 2024's top online buys, bringing beauty and colour to gardens across New Zealand:

  1. 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 – Rhododendron Black Magic this black-red appeals to people who don’t usually like the reds. One of the deepest reds there is.
  2. 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗻 – Rhododendron Rubicon has deep velvety red tight trusses, spotted darker red. Superb foliage.
  3. 𝗚𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘆 – Such a fabulous name! Rhododendron Grumpy has pale pink buds open to cream flowers with soft pale pink at edges. Fades to cream colour. One of the seven dwarf series.

Honourable mentions: Cunninghams White, Bumble Bee, Princess Alice (Joint 4th), Black Sport (5th)!

Did your favourite make the list?

Browse Shop

Mastering the Art of Watering Your Garden

Watering is essential for keeping plants healthy, especially during the summer heat. In the nursery, we water early in the morning because it helps prevent fungal diseases and leaf burn caused by hot midday sun. The best practice is to water deeply at the base of the plant, focusing on the root ball rather than spraying the leaves. Alternating watering days works well for most plants, ensuring they have enough moisture to thrive.

Want to see how we do it? Watch our video here: [link coming soon]

Watch Watering Video
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A woman waters plants under a pergola in a picturesque garden, promoting a serene atmosphere reminiscent of the Rhodo Direct home page. In the background, a vehicle is parked, adding to the idyllic charm of the scene.
A garden sprinkler from Rhodo Direct waters a lawn, spraying life in all directions. Green grass and trees in the background create a serene scene worthy of any home page showcase.
The misting system in the greenhouse interior cultivates a foggy atmosphere among rows of potted plants, reminiscent of stepping into the lush world showcased on Rhodo Direct's Home Page.
A watering can subtly drips water on a wooden surface, mastering the art of watering your garden. It's surrounded by vibrant pink azalea flowers in the sunlit garden.

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

Plans gone awry - a Native Garden surprise!

Plans don’t always go as expected - Steve and I learned that firsthand while creating a new garden near our propagation house. Originally, we planned to plant popular oaks to protect it from the elements, but our contractor had other ideas! Instead, we’re rolling with Plan B, creating a vibrant native garden featuring sun-loving red rhododendrons like Kaponga and stunning foliage plants like Heucheras. It’s all about experimenting with what thrives in our exposed spot. Curious to see how it turned out? Click here to see the transformation!

To read the full story, click below:

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