My Rhododendron, which has beautiful very large reddish flowers, finished blooming about a month ago. Other Rhododendrons, in my neighborhood, do as mine. About 100 feet from mine, is a Rhododendron, is in bloom now. Every year is the same, blooming one month later. Is that common or is it just lazy and waits until it feels like blooming? Tony
Answer
Hi Tony,
Most rhododendron like yours and your neighbors, bloom in May. The rhododendron that is nearby and is blooming now is a native rhododendron called Rosebay, Great Laurel or (Rhododendron maximum). It's a large rhododendron, growing 8-15' tall and begins blooming in late June into July. It has long, strap-like leaves with pinkish-white flowers. It naturally grows in fairly shaded areas with moist soil.
There is a native stand of Rosebay Rhododendron in the Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown, CT. It's a beautiful place to visit. There's also a White Cedar Swamp in the same area. Thank you for your question.
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About Linda Lillie
Linda K. Lillie is the President of Sprigs & Twigs, Inc, the premier
landscape design and maintenance, tree care, lawn care, stonework, and carpentry
service provider in southeastern Connecticut since 1997. She is a graduate of
Connecticut College in Botany, a Connecticut Master Gardener and a national
award winning landscape designer for her landscape design and landscape installation work.
