Rhododendron 2 litre Maximus

Acid-loving and reliable in Irish gardens, this rhododendron forms a handsome, evergreen shrub with leathery green foliage and showy clusters of blooms. Best in light or dappled shade, it thrives in moist but well-drained, humus-rich, ericaceous soil and appreciates shelter from cold, drying winds. Prepare the planting hole with leaf-mould or pine needles, keep the rootball at soil level (do not plant deep), water with rainwater where possible, and mulch annually to conserve moisture. Remove spent flower trusses after flowering by snapping them off cleanly above the new growth to maintain shape and vigour.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Partial shade to shade (ideal on north or east aspects)

Rate of Growth: Slow to moderate

Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich, acid (ericaceous) soil

Hardiness: Fully hardy across Ireland

Plant at a Glance