Princess Anne Rhododendron

A remarkable miniature beauty, fitting into the smallest space in the smallest garden, the Princess Anne Rhododendron is very different from most others. It is slow-growing, reaching just a foot tall and wide in 10 years, but it is a true jewel, something special, and yes, a royal addition to your garden. Older plants may reach 3 feet tall and wide, in time. Ideal for a shady rock garden, or for growing in a pot, this compact beauty has super-fashionable flowers of the palest yellow-green, with slightly darker throats. Slender trumpets 1 inch across, these are in clusters of 4 or 5 at the end of every branch, almost hiding the foliage in their profusion. Eye-catching and super appealing, this royal beauty sports bronze new growth that becomes light green in summer and may turn bronzy again in winter. An inch long, the leaves cluster along the stems of this dense, compact plant. Perfect for a special place where it will be seen close-up, or for growing in a pot, consider also doing a little training and turning it into a superb flowering bonsai, with leaves and flowers in perfect scale. A true beauty, and a miniature wonder.

• Elegant blooms of the palest greenish yellow
• Dense, compact growth with small leaves that are bronze in spring
• Just 1 to 3 feet tall and wide when mature
• Perfect choice for growing in pots or bonsai
• Grow in acidic soil for the best results

Choose a place with some morning sun for your Princess Anne Rhododendron. It will also grow well in light shade beneath deciduous trees or in shade on the north side of trees or a building, with blue sky overhead. For good growth the soil should be acidic, with a pH value no higher than 6.0. The soil should be moist and rich, but well-drained, and watering during dry periods in summer will be needed. When growing in a pot use a lime-free soil, such as one blended for azaleas or camellias, and fertilizer with a product for acid-loving plants. Generally free of pests or diseases, this is not a difficult plant to grow if you have suitable soil and appropriate light levels. Remove the dead flower heads once the last bloom falls, snapping them out just above the topmost leaves or from between the new shoots.