Rhododendron 'Ernie Dee'
A compact, evergreen shrub to around 1m in height, with small, oval-shaped dark green leaves. Long-lasting trusses of funnel-shaped purple flowers emerge from attractive pink buds in the spring. Great for borders or pots and containers
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
AcidColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Purple | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Potentially harmful
- Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs, cats, rabbits, tortoises) Harmful if eaten - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
- Genus
Rhododendron can be evergreen or deciduous shrubs or trees, with simple leaves, sometimes with a dense colourful indumentum of hairs on the lower side, and funnel-shaped, bell-shaped or tubular flowers that may be solitary or in short racemes
- Name status
Unresolved
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moist but well-drained, leafy humus-rich, acid soil in part shade with shelter from cold winds, ideal for a woodland garden; sun tolerant if soil remains reliably moist but strong sun may bleach flower colour; see rhododendron cultivation. If growing indoors, place in a cool, light well-ventilated spot out of direct sunlight. See rhododendron cultivation for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer, layering in autumn or grafting in late summer or late winter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Flower borders and beds
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Pests
May be susceptible to vine weevil, rhododendron leafhopper, pieris lacebug, scale insects, caterpillars and aphids
Diseases
May be susceptible to Rhododendron diseases, powdery mildews, rhododendron petal blight, rhododendron bud blast, silver leaf and honey fungus
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