Rhododendron molle
Rhododendron molle · Ericaceae
📷 Daderot · CC0
⚠️ Rhododendron : feuilles toxiques pour chiens et chats. Ingestion provoque nausées, vomissements, diarrhée, troubles cardiaques.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around rhododendron molle and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous (leaves that fall in autumn)
- Flowering
- April to May, pink, yellow or orange flowers
- Adult size
- Approximately 150 cm in height
- Exposure
- Partial shade, ideal in woodland settings
- Water requirement
- Significant, soil should remain consistently moist
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to approximately -15 °C
- Family
- Ericaceae (like azalea and heather)
- Origin
- East Asia (China, Japan)
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Rhododendron molle needs acidic soil (pH 5-6) and consistent moisture without waterlogging: plant it in light shade with a mulch of fallen leaves or bark.
The common mistake
Planting it in neutral or chalky soil: the leaves will turn yellow relentlessly.
The pro's trick
Water with rainwater or filtered water if your tap water is very chalky.
Care
Watering
The mollis rhododendron loves moist soil: water regularly during the growing season (spring-summer), especially in hot weather. Keep the substrate moist but not waterlogged. Reduce watering in winter after leaf fall, while ensuring the soil doesn't dry out completely.
Exposure
Prefer partial shade, in woodland settings or sheltered by larger trees. Too much direct sun can dry out the foliage and reduce flowering. Protect it from cold, dry winds that risk damaging the buds.
Soil
Plant your mollis rhododendron in acidic, organic-rich, well-draining soil. Amend the earth with peat, leaf compost or ericaceous soil if your soil is chalky or too compact.
Pruning and cutting
Lightly pinch young shoots in late spring to encourage branching. After flowering, you can remove spent flowers. Avoid severe pruning: simply clean up dead or diseased branches in late winter.
Fertilizer
Apply a specific fertilizer for ericaceous plants in spring and early summer. Choose formulas low in lime. A balanced application every 4-6 weeks is generally sufficient to support growth.
Diseases and pests
Watch for powdery mildew in humid conditions: ensure good air circulation around the plant. The plant can be attacked by mites or aphids in dry conditions; mist with water regularly. Poor drainage promotes root rot: check soil moisture.
Did you know?
The mollis rhododendron, also called mollis azalea, comes from horticultural crosses launched in the 19th century between Asian species and selective hybridization. Its appeal lies in its spectacular profusion of flowers in spring and its ability to transform its leaves into gold and scarlet in autumn before they fall, offering a double seasonal decoration to the garden. In Asia, rhododendrons have been revered for millennia and are among the national floral emblems of several regions.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- CowberryVaccinium vitis-idaea
- Cross-leaved heathErica tetralix
- Bog rosemaryAndromeda polifolia
- BearberryArctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Strawberry treeArbutus unedo
- Tree HeathErica arborea
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.