Rhododendron ‘Sir Charles Lemon’ is a classic evergreen rhododendron admired for its pure white flowers with subtle dark speckling on the upper petals, borne in rounded clusters that create an elegant show in mid spring. The blooms contrast beautifully with the plant’s dark green foliage, which features a cinnamon brown woolly indumentum on the undersides — a distinctive trait that adds visual interest year round.
This variety forms an upright, substantial shrub, generally reaching around 1.5–2.5 metres in height (and potentially larger in ideal conditions), making it well suited to mixed borders, woodland gardens, or as a specimen feature where its form and flowers can be appreciated. ‘Sir Charles Lemon’ prefers acidic, moist but well drained soils, and performs best in partial shade to dappled sun, with shelter from harsh winds and extreme afternoon heat.
With its combination of classic white blooms, attractive foliage texture, and year round structure, Rhododendron ‘Sir Charles Lemon’ is a timeless choice for gardeners who appreciate both spring colour and evergreen landscape presence.
Order Rhododendron ‘Sir Charles Lemon’ online today, or visit the RhodoDirect nursery to see this historic and striking rhododendron in person.

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