If my property has late frosts can I plant fragrant varieties?

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 the eaves or in a protected part of the garden. A frost will damage the flower buds, and once damaged they don’t recover, they just fall off the plant. Most frosts won’t kill the plant, however, a severe frost will kill the plant too. We recommend that you consider carefully before choosing a fragrant variety. The perfume is magic, but you need to be able to provide good shelter from the frost to enjoy that marvellous perfume.