Cunningham's Blush Rhododendron

Larger rhododendrons are perfect for filling spaces in your garden, especially beneath trees and in other shaded areas. For this you want a plant with ‘presence’, one that will grow to a good size, and also give you a great spring display. For that, look no further than the no-nonsense beauty and reliability of Cunningham’s Blush Rhododendron. Vigorous, relatively cold-hardy, easy to grow, and reliable, this plant has large, leathery leaves and is well-branched, forming a dense mound that soon reaches 6 feet tall and wide and will mature at 10 feet or so. Allow for that spread when planting, and place at least 5 feet from walls, fences and boundaries. It blooms around the middle of the spring, with a fabulous display of 15 or more 2-inch blossoms in large clusters, opening a soft mauve-pink, and maturing to a beautiful light pink. A mature bush in bloom is a sight to behold, and it makes a great evergreen for the rest of the year. Use it to fill corners of your lot, beneath large trees, against blank walls on the north side of your home, and wherever you need substance and beauty.

• Substantial, well-branched evergreen maturing around 10 feet tall and wide
• Magnificent clusters of many blooms in shades of pink
• Large, leathery leaves give structure to your plantings
• Perfect for growing under large trees, or out on a shaded lawn
• More tolerant of neutral soils than most other rhododendrons

Cunningham’s Blush Rhododendron will perform best with some sun for part of the day at least, preferably in the mornings. It will also grow on the north side of a building, or in the light shade beneath deciduous trees. Less successful beneath large evergreen trees. Plant in a rich, moist soil that is well-drained and preferably with a pH value of 6.5 or less. This particular variety is somewhat more tolerant of neutral soils (6.5 to 7.0) than most other rhododendrons, so it’s great for border-line soils. Water regularly when young, and during dry periods when mature. Add plenty of lime-free materials like compost or peat moss when planting, and use every spring as a mulch, especially when young. It isn’t eaten by deer, but note that it is toxic to horses and livestock. Generally free of pests or diseases, and needs no pruning.