Spring Dawn Rhododendron

Title:
Spring Dawn Rhododendron

Description:
The Spring Dawn Rhododendron is a show-stopping evergreen shrub, celebrated for its clusters of rosy pink, funnel-shaped blooms with a striking golden yellow blotch. Flowering in mid to late spring, this vigorous hybrid adds vibrant color and lush greenery to any landscape. Its dense, upright habit and glossy, dark green foliage provide year-round interest, while the spectacular spring display is a highlight in gardens and borders.

Fast-growing and cold-hardy, Spring Dawn reaches 5–10 feet tall and 6–12 feet wide at maturity, filling space quickly with minimal care. It thrives in acidic, well-drained soil and prefers partial sun or dappled shade, making it ideal for planting under trees or in woodland gardens. This variety is deer resistant, rarely troubled by pests or disease, and requires little pruning-just remove spent blooms after flowering.

Key Features:

• Large, rounded trusses of rosy pink, trumpet-shaped flowers with golden yellow blotches (mid to late spring)

• Evergreen, glossy dark green foliage

• Mature size: 5–10 ft tall, 6–12 ft wide

• Fast-growing, upright, and spreading habit

• Deer resistant and low maintenance

• Hardy in USDA zones 5–9 (some sources note zone 4)

• Excellent for borders, woodland gardens, mass plantings, and as a specimen shrub

Care Instructions:
Plant in acidic, well-drained, organically rich soil. Water regularly, especially during dry spells-this variety is not drought tolerant. Mulch with pine bark or needles to maintain moisture and acidity. Prune only after flowering to remove spent blooms and avoid cutting off next year’s buds. Protect from harsh afternoon sun and drying winds.

Light: Full sun to partial shade (best with morning sun or dappled shade)
Water: Keep soil evenly moist, not soggy
Bloom Time: Mid to late spring
Foliage: Evergreen, dark green, narrow leaves
Landscape Uses: Borders, woodland gardens, mass plantings, specimen shrub, under trees
Companion Plants: Azalea, Mountain Laurel, Ferns, Hosta, Hydrangea
Toxicity: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

Botanical Name: Rhododendron hybrid 'Spring Dawn'