Rhododendron 'Helsinki University'
Wayside Gardens
One Garden Lane
Hodges, SC 29653
Toll Free: 800-845-1124
Email: info@waysidegardens.com
Evergreen foliage emerges tinged with red.
Upright habit and late-spring color!
It may hail from Finland, but this super-hardy shrub is making itself right at home here in the USA. Its large trusses of bright pink, red-orange-speckled, lightly scented blooms appear in late spring, immediately grabbing the attention of every passerby. The flowers emerge from distinctive rose buds that are just a hint of the show to come!
The dense, evergreen foliage emerges tinged with red, maturing to a rich, glossy green. Its multi-stemmed habit takes on a more or less rounded form, and its somewhat course texture means it makes a lovely contrast to plants with finer foliage. With an upright habit and a promise of alluring late-spring color, this evergreen is sure to become a popular selection for foundation plantings from one side of the country to the other.
'Helsinki University' is a relatively low-maintenance shrub and only needs to be pruned after flowering. It does need well-drained, highly acidic, organic soil and likes plenty of peat moss when it's planted. This rhodo has a low canopy and tends to grow pretty slowly, eventually reaching a width of 3-4' and a height of 4-6.' Treat it well, and this lovely shrub could very well live for 30 years!
Plant in full sun to partial shade and provide evenly moist, well-drained soil. Do not allow it to be in standing water! Consider putting down a thick mulch in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder areas. Zones 4-8.
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