Stop and Smell the Rhodos – Discover the Fragrant Rhododendrons

Stop and Smell the Rhodos – Discover the Fragrant Rhododendrons

One of the questions I often get asked at the nursery is, “Are there any rhododendrons that are fragrant?”
The answer is a resounding yes! And once you’ve grown a few of these beauties, you’ll find yourself seeking them out again and again.

While colour often steals the spotlight, fragrance brings a whole new dimension to the garden. Whether it’s a gentle perfume that drifts by on a warm spring day or a rich, heady scent that stops you in your tracks, fragrant rhododendrons have a special magic that’s hard to beat.

 

A Range of Colours and Scents

Fragrant rhododendrons aren’t limited to one colour. Their range spans from rich, deep reds right through to the soft apricot tones of varieties like Floral Gift and Katie. Each one has its own unique personality — not just in flower colour, but in leaf texture, growth habit, and the type of fragrance it offers.

Four Main Groups of Fragrant Rhododendrons

Over time, I’ve noticed that fragrant rhododendrons tend to fall into four main groups, each with distinct features that make them fascinating in their own way:

 

1. The Fragrant Species

This includes beauties such as R. edgeworthii and R. spiciferum, both known for their delicate perfume and soft, textured foliage. These species tend to have smaller, elegant flowers and make a wonderful addition to sheltered gardens.

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.

2. The Maddenii Family

These are perhaps the toughest of the fragrant rhododendrons, often surprising people with how well they grow in more exposed and frosty parts of Canterbury. Their structure is similar to that of a viburnum bush — open yet graceful — and they flower generously. Varieties like Kotuku belong to this group, along with several others that bring strength and fragrance together beautifully.

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.

 

3. The Nuttallii Family

These are truly spectacular rhododendrons with large, textured leaves that create year-round interest. I find this group the most sensitive to cold, but if you have a protected spot in the garden, they’re worth every bit of care. Watching their buds develop is exciting in its own right, and the fragrance that follows is absolutely divine.

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.

 

4. The Hybrids

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.

Some of the best-known fragrant hybrids include Fragrantissimum, Princess Alice, and John Bull. These three are often compared — and for good reason.

• Fragrantissimum is the one many people remember from their grandparents’ gardens. It’s a classic with large, beautifully perfumed blooms, though the plant itself can grow a little open and leggy.
• Princess Alice and John Bull share that same wonderful fragrance but have fragrant foliage as well — a delightful bonus! Both form compact, bushy plants, making them easier to fit into modern gardens.

Between the two, John Bull is slightly tougher and grows around 30cm taller than Princess Alice, with slightly larger leaves. All three are timeless favourites and perfect examples of how fragrance and form can come together beautifully.

 

A Few More Favourites

If you’re looking for something a little different, there are other scented varieties worth exploring.
Stonelaw, raised by the Dunedin Botanic Gardens, has a delicate perfume that matches its white and rose-pink blooms.
Charisma offers early to mid-season sweetly scented flowers with a soft pink blush and warm yellow-orange highlights.
Each one brings something unique — whether it’s their colour, leaf character, or that irresistible fragrance.

 

Planting Tips for Fragrant Rhododendrons

To get the most out of your fragrant varieties:

• Plant them close to paths or seating areas where you can easily enjoy their scent.
• Choose a sheltered, semi-shaded spot – wind can quickly carry the fragrance away.
• Use acidic, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil, and always avoid lime.
• Add leaf mulch to keep roots cool and improve the soil over time.

For me, fragrant rhododendrons are among the most rewarding plants you can grow. They’re beautiful to look at, lovely to touch, and absolutely unforgettable to smell. Each group — from the tough Maddeniis to the delicate Nuttallii — has its own charm and personality.

Whether you’re drawn to the nostalgia of Fragrantissimum, the elegance of Princess Alice, or the resilience of Kotuku, there’s a fragrant rhododendron for every garden and gardener.

So next time you visit RhodoDirect, stop and smell the rhodos — quite literally! You might just discover your new favourite scent.