Lee's Dark Purple Rhododendron

Stylish color for you to create a marvelous landscape with the eye-catching deep, dark, and dramatic purple blooms of this fantastic large shrub. The rich, bold tones of Lee's Dark Purple Rhododendron (Rhododendron x 'Lee's Dark Purple') blooms create a very memorable experience for you, your family, and your guests. You deserve it!

The show starts early in spring. Plum-colored buds develop on long trusses above attractive dark broad-leaved evergreen foliage. Keep your eyes open for this special harbinger of the new growing season! Bringing with it every pollinator and Hummingbird lucky enough to be out this early in the spring! Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 5 to 9, these compact but sizeable shrubs grow 5-6 feet in height and 6-8 feet in width.

Watch as the delightfully clear, luminous amethyst violet blooms open. Every bloom is highlighted with a honey-colored "splotch" for added depth. The broadly funnel-shaped blooms attract brilliant hummingbirds and butterflies alike. Lee's Dark Purple is a great nectar resource for helpful pollinators, as well. You can keep it tightly pruned or allow it to grow out to its broadly mounded, upright glory.

Planting and Application:

These days, people across the country are using plants to boost their privacy. With wavy-edged evergreen leaves and a dense branch structure, this beautiful plant provides a year-round privacy screen. The larger scale of Lee's Dark Purple can be used as a flowering screening hedgerow. Create a retreat or getaway spot in your yard by planting "living walls" for a relaxing outdoor room, Meditation Garden, or outdoor Yoga studio!

Try a row of them behind your patio seating. Or, use them along the length of your fence or driveway. You'll be so proud of your amazing oasis! Use it often to unwind and recharge in with cozy seating and outdoor lighting.

To create a solid hedge quickly, buy the largest container size we have in stock. Plant them 4 feet apart on center, measuring from the center of one to the center of the next. You can also use an old gardener's trick. Plant two "staggered" rows that are planted in a zigzag pattern. They'll grow together and touch to block out the unsightly views and sounds of discordant modern living.

Of course, Lee's Dark Purple can also be mixed in your shrub border. The cool tones of both blooms and the year-round evergreen foliage make an excellent backdrop for brighter perennials. Try one as a spectacular specimen at the corner of your house or pollinator borders.

• Luscious Deep Purple Flowers in Early Spring
• Attractive Dark Green Broad-Leaved Evergreen
• Important Nectar Source for Butterflies, Bees & Hummingbirds
• Urban Tolerant, Backdrop, Mixed Hedges & En Masse
• Well-Branched Shrub Gives Welcome Privacy Screen & Perfect Flowering Hedge

#ProPlantTips For Care

This shrub is a jewel, and like all gems, requires the right setting to truly shine! Plant this Rhododendron in a full sun location in cooler climates and in the morning sun with afternoon shade in hotter areas. Plant in fast-draining, acidic soil for best performance. They grow naturally in the thin soil of a mountain slope. Replicate that in your landscape creating a mound or raised bed 18 inches tall.

Weed your plantings regularly, as the shallow roots won't like the competition. Keep these evenly moist and pull weeds just as soon as you see them appear. Plant this in fast-draining, acidic soil for best performance. They grow naturally in the thin soil of a mountain slope. Replicate that in your landscape creating a mound or raised bed 18 inches tall. "Mound them up" when planting. Leave several inches of root ball showing above ground. Provide a layer of acidic Pine bark or straw mulch over the root system.

Prune to shape, but wait until after the beautiful blooms are finished for the season. This shrub blooms on last year's wood, and you won't want to miss a moment of the flower show. Avoid any major summer or fall pruning, or you will remove next year's spring flowers. Apply a good, organic, slow-release Acid Lovers fertilizer in early spring according to the product directions.

In the colder USDA plant hardiness zones, give Lee's a protected position to protect against winter damage. In the warmer zones, they will appreciate some afternoon shade.

• Grows in Full Sun or Partial Shade
• Low Maintenance in Slightly Acidic Well-Drained Soil
• Moderate Moisture & Mulched Beds
• Prune Immediately After Spring Flowers Fade
• Tolerates Coastal Exposures

You'll fall in love with this very versatile plant. Order Lee's Dark Purple Rhododendron from Nature Hills Nursery today! They sell out quickly, as you can imagine. Enjoy!

Azalea and Rhododendron Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the best place to plant Rhododendrons?

Azaleas and Rhododendrons prefer partial shade (both dappled shade all day or morning sun with afternoon shade). Plant in a slightly acidic, consistently moist, enriched, and well-drained soil location for best results. Their shallow roots dislike soggy soil but thrive with a 3-4 inch layer of arborist mulch over their surface.

How big do Rhododendrons get?

Lee's Dark Purple Rhododendron can grow 5-6 feet in height and 6-8 feet in width, when grown in optimal conditions.

Are Rhododendrons low maintenance?

Azalea and Rhododendron shrubs are very easy to grow and low maintenance. Water during drought, prune only after flowering and fertilize with an acid-loving organic, slow-release flowering plant fertilizer.

What is the difference between Rhododendrons and Azaleas?

All Azaleas are Rhododendrons but not all Rhodondendrons are Azaleas. Azalea tends to be smaller-sized with smaller leaves and stems, while Rhododendrons can be larger with stout branching and larger bloom trusses. There can both be either deciduous or broad-leaved evergreens.

How Do I Find Azaleas and Rhododendrons for Sale Near Me?

Make your life easier and your yard happier by shopping for Azaleas at NatureHills.com online nursery. You'll find a massive selection of flowering bushes for sale, including many lovely varieties!

Choose the right shrub for your area by first finding your growing zone by entering your zip code in the field above the Plant Highlights section on our product pages. Narrow down your options by plant hardiness zone, sun availability, and size requirements.

Place your order, knowing it's backed by the Nature Hills Nursery product guarantee and protected by Plant Sentry™, which helps ensure regulated plant materials aren't sent to prohibited areas.

Expect to receive your plants at the appropriate planting time for your growing zone when temperatures are safest to ship through and into.

What Shipping Options Do You Offer?

NatureHills.com works closely with our growers and nursery professionals to ensure we ship when it is most appropriate for your area. Our goal is to deliver the hardiest plants by avoiding extreme high and low temperatures. Check out our shipping schedule for more information and to learn our wills and don'ts when it comes to shipping plants. Find your Azaleas for sale here at NatureHills.com!