Discover the Enchanting World of Fragrant Rhododendrons

Many gardeners are unaware that the world of scented rhododendrons extends beyond the popular Fragrantissimum and Loderi varieties. While these cultivars are timeless classics, there’s a broader range of fragrant rhododendrons worth exploring.

Fragrantissimum has a wonderful scent but tends to be leggy and open with fewer flowers per truss. Its blooms are also rather soft and prone to weather marking. For gardeners seeking more manageable plants, there are excellent alternatives. We are now spoilt for choice with several other hybrids available on the market that focus on fragrance, colour, and robustness. For a similar look and fragrance as Fragrantissimum, consider the compact and robust options of Princess Alice and John Bull. For scented blooms in white with a pink flush, Elsie Frye, Anne Teece, and Harry Tagg are excellent smaller growers, reaching around a meter high, with a good scent.

New Fragrant Hybrid Rhododendrons

Fragrance in rhododendrons is typically associated with white and pale colours. Unlike their azalea and vireya relatives, scented rhododendrons rarely come in bold reds, blues, or purples. Breeders, however, have made strides in combining fragrance with a broader colour palette. Felix Jury, a notable hybridist, successfully merged fragrance, colour, and healthy foliage in his rhododendrons. His hybrids, which include Floral Dance (white with a yellow throat and carmine tips) and Floral Sun (soft yellow), offer tidy, compact growth and masses of blooms. Felix Jury’s series of R. polyandrum hybrids, such as Bernice (crimson), Barbara Jury (yellow), Moon Orchid (apricot and yellow), and Felicity Fair (pastel honey), are excellent examples.

Nutty about Nuttalli Rhododendrons

Rhododendron nuttallii is an amazingly exotic species with large waxy trumpet flowers, highly fragrant and textured leaves. This evergreen shrub or small tree reaches heights of 4 to 10 meters and is often found growing as an epiphyte in the eastern Himalaya. Here in New Zealand, the nuttallii rhododendrons grow well close to another plant for physical support but are not parasitic, getting their nutrients and moisture from the air, rain, and debris accumulating around them. The stunning plant features stout, leathery, oblong-elliptic leaves up to 26 cm long, with a glaucous underside and a puckered, wrinkled surface. Its fragrant, lily-like flowers bloom in loose terminal trusses of 2-5, showcasing an ivory-white corolla with a yellow blotch and funnel-shaped base. Flowering from late October to the end of November, R. nuttallii thrives in sandy, peaty, well-drained soil in a sheltered position. Due to their popularity, we often have Mi Amor, Danella, Ivory Empress, and other Nuttalli cultivars available.

Mad on Maddennii Rhododendrons

Rhododendron maddenii is a large, evergreen shrub or small tree that belongs to the diverse Maddenia subsection, which consists of around forty species. maddenii is known for its large, fragrant, tubular-funnel-shaped flowers that bloom from mid-spring to mid-summer and vary in colour from white to pink and occasionally yellow. The plant’s smooth, exfoliating burgundy bark and colourful foliage add to its appeal. This species has won numerous awards for its stunning floral displays and has been extensively used in hybridization. Its robust growth, deep green glossy foliage, and showy fragrant flowers make it a standout in any garden. Always available annually are Kotuku, Maddenni, and other cultivars in the nursery.

Fragrant Species

Several fragrant rhododendron species, although often challenging to grow, can be rewarding additions to a garden. R. polyandrum, with its massive cream flowers and intoxicating scent, and R. maddenii, with its waxy, late-season blooms, are noteworthy. R. cubittii, with its pretty pink and white flowers, thrives in warmer areas but needs frost protection in colder climates. R. veitchianum, although tender, offers pure white, frilly blooms in frost-free regions.

Fragrant rhododendrons can thrive in milder climates with some protection from extreme cold. For example several nuttalli and maddenni rhododendrons are growing well in Queenstown.  Plant fragrant rhododendrons in areas sheltered from frost to ensure the best flowering display. These plants prefer full sun with some afternoon shade to prevent foliage scorch. Regular pruning and pinching out of leggy growths are essential to maintain a good shape. Historically, picking the fragrant flowers for indoor enjoyment kept plants bushier, and I encourage gardeners to continue this practice to promote good shape and bushiness.

Fragrant rhododendrons, with their delightful scents and beautiful blooms, add a unique charm to any garden. Whether you opt for the classic Fragrantissimum, the versatile maddenii, or one of the colourful hybrids, these plants offer a range of options to suit different climates and garden spaces. Embrace the enchanting world of fragrant rhododendrons and let their captivating scents transform your garden into a fragrant paradise.