Rhododendron 'Nova Zembla'

Rhododendron 'Nova Zembla' (Rhododendron 'Nova Zembla') is the most popular red rhododendron in the world. Large flowers up to 12 cm across, bright red with darker spotting, are packed into dense trusses, and in May they cover the whole bush.

For the rest of the year the large, elongated dark green evergreen leaves do the work. A mature bush reaches 1.5-2.4 m tall, so it is planted in masses, in groups and as a specimen in woodland and shade gardens, or even as an informal hedge; in strong sun the red may fade towards pink.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: The name 'Nova Zembla' means "new land" and points to the island of Novaya Zemlya off Russia's northern coast - and the cultivar really is one of the cold-proof kind.
• Dimensions: At 10 years 1.5-2.4 m tall and 1.5-1.8 m wide.
• Hardiness: Hardy to -34 °C (USDA zone 4).
• Flowering: In May the shrub blazes with bright red flowers marked with dark spots.
• Light: It grows from sun to partial shade, and is best in dappled shade or morning sun with shade at midday.
• Soil: It loves acid soil (pH 5.0-5.5), humus-rich and moisture-retentive, and always well drained.
• Watering: Water moderately and evenly: the surface roots must not dry out, and standing water leads to root rots.
• Care: Mulch with bark or pine needles, do not cultivate the soil, snap off flower heads after blooming and shelter it from dry winter winds.
• Landscape use: Fine in masses, groups and as a specimen, in shrub and mixed borders, woodland and shady gardens, and as a hedge.
• Origin: The hybrid was raised by Koster & Sons in Boskoop, the Netherlands, and introduced in 1902.