Rhododendron vaseyi (A)

RHS Plant Profile
pink-shell azalea

Synonyms

Azalea vaseyi

Award of Garden Merit
Shrubs

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Ericaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
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
Correct
Horticultural Group
Azaleas can be deciduous or evergreen, with mostly small, frequently fragrant, funnel-shaped flowers in spring or early summer; deciduous azaleas often have good autumn colour
Plant Range
SE USA

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in light, dappled shade in a site sheltered from cold, drying winds and late frosts, in moist but well-drained, humus-rich, acidic soil, preferably between pH4.5 and pH5.5. See rhododendron cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings, layering or grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Low Maintenance
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Banks and slopes

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to vine weevil, rhododendron whiteflies, rhododendron leafhopper, lacebugs, scale insects, caterpillars and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, rhododendron bud blast, petal blight, honey fungus, silver leaf, Phytophthora root and shoot rots. See Rhododendron diseases