Frequently Asked Questions

Discover the Beauty of Deciduous Azaleas in New Zealand Gardens As we move through July, it’s the perfect time to highlight one of the most enchanting and versatile plants you can introduce to your garden: the Deciduous Azalea. These vibrant azaleas not only provide a spectacular display of colours but are also perfectly suited to…

People often ask me what plants I put with Rhododendrons.  As rhododendrons are such shallow-rooted plants, the following work well as companion plantings. Here’s a quick list of my favourites: hellebores, hydrangeas, lilies, dahlias, hostas, Chatham Island lilies, and trilliums. These plants thrive in a mix of hot and shady spots, and I also love…

Rhododendrons exhibit a fascinating adaptation to cope with cold conditions. As temperatures drop, rhododendron leaves curl and hang down, creating a protective layer that reduces moisture loss. This behaviour eases the strain on the roots, which would otherwise struggle to extract moisture from frozen soil. Additionally, when snow falls, it interacts uniquely with rhododendron foliage.…

Many individuals who would dearly love to grow rhododendrons have steered away from them because of their clay soil. Don’t let having clay soil stop you enjoying a rhododendron garden. If heavy clay is present then dig a small hole and run some water into it; if the water does not disappear in a few…

One of the concerns we hear from customers is that they don’t have enough shade in their garden. Many customers plant trees in their gardens first and think that they will have to wait until the trees have provided shade before they can plant their rhododendrons. This is not the case – no waiting is…

Nearly all fragrant rhododendrons are frost tender. A good rule of thumb to abide by is if the area they are going in will be affected by a -4 degree Celsius frost, then don’t plant them. Sometimes you might get bad frosts but have a very sheltered location for fragrant varieties to grow, like under…

You can use animal manure but be careful not to burn the fibre roots at the top of the rhodos root ball. Instead spread it around well away from the rhodos roots and ensure it is well rotted. For more comprehensive information visit our fertiliser advice page.

Free Draining Soil (this can be created by planting rhodos on top of the ground if needs be) Water and plenty of it, particularly in the heat Acid soil (you can create it if you don’t have it already) A canopy of deciduous trees OR plenty of mulch for water retention is a PLUS!

There is nothing wrong with your rhododendron unless all the leaves are changing colour. It is a very normal part of the lifecycle of the rhododendron for leaves to discolour and fall off. This happens after a leaf has been on the plant for 3 years. It is normal and there is nothing wrong with…

Rhododendrons are known for their beautiful blooms in spring, but what happens when they start flowering out of season? While this may seem unusual, it can actually happen for a number of reasons. This is predominantly due to the current weather patterns. As we are still in an El Nina, this has affected the temperatures…