Rhododendron ‘Genghis Khan’ is a striking large-growing rhododendron admired for its powerful presence in the garden and intense red floral display. In mid to late spring, it produces impressive, well-formed trusses of deep crimson-red flowers, often with darker internal markings that enhance their richness and depth. The bold colour makes it an excellent feature plant, particularly effective when mass planted or used as a backdrop in woodland-style gardens.
This variety develops into a substantial evergreen shrub, reaching approximately 2.5 metres in height at 10 years, with a strong, upright growth habit and broad spread over time. The foliage is large, leathery, and deep green, providing year-round structure and creating an excellent contrast to the vivid spring flowers.
‘Genghis Khan’ prefers free-draining, acidic soil enriched with organic matter and responds well to regular mulching. Compared with many red-flowering rhododendrons, it shows good sun tolerance, especially when sheltered from extreme afternoon heat, and has demonstrated solid thrip resilience, contributing to cleaner foliage through the growing season. Hardy and reliable, it is well suited to larger gardens, shelter planting, and woodland settings where space allows it to reach its full potential.

Shop online or visit us at the RhodoDirect nursery, where you can view mature plants and talk directly with rhododendron specialists.

When you purchase a rhododendron, you will receive a well-established four-year-old plant grown in a 6L pot, with a strong root system and often developing flower buds, ready to settle in and thrive in your garden.

To help you plan for the plant’s eventual scale, the mature heights listed in the Product Information are estimated 10-year sizes from the time of planting. For more detail, please refer to our Size Guide in the FAQs.

Learn More: Size Guide

All our rhododendrons are grown in pots, so you can plant them anytime, though autumn is ideal for encouraging strong root growth. Find the right spot based on your chosen rhodo, improve the soil generously with organic matter, gently tease out the roots, and plant shallow at or just below the original soil level. Finally, mulch well and water thoroughly to help your plant establish.

Read more here | Planting & Soil Preparation Guide

Rhododendrons are rewarding and easy to grow once their basics are right — most issues come down to watering, drainage, or planting depth. Follow our planting guide for a great start, prune as needed, mulch annually to keep roots cool, and feed lightly in spring for a spectacular bloom later in the year.

Keep an eye out for common issues like powdery mildew or thrip, and address them promptly. We have plenty of information on caring for your rhododendron, and if you can’t find what you need, we’re always happy to talk all things Rhodos. Find a full overview in our General Care Guide (link below).

Read More: General Care Guide

We provide local delivery within Christchurch and ship nationwide via Post Haste, with all shipping costs calculated at checkout. Plants are carefully packed in sturdy banana boxes, and shipping is calculated based on this packaging. To maximise value, orders of 2–4 plants (up to 4 plants per box) are usually the most economical. Orders are dispatched Monday to Wednesday to avoid weekend delays.

Larger orders (10+ plants) may be sent via our bulk transport partner, Rockeater, for a cost-effective solution.

Every order is packed with care to arrive in excellent condition and ready to thrive. For full details, see our Shipping FAQs.

Learn More: Shipping Information