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Korean Rhododendron Wikimedia Commons
Ericaceae

Korean Rhododendron

Rhododendron mucronulatum

Early hope and renewal.

Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Rhododendron
Native to
Korea, Northern China, Japan, Mongolia
Bloom season
Winter, Spring
Type
shrub
Height
4-8 ft
Sunlight
full sun to partial shade
Soil
acidic, well-drained, humus-rich
Water
moderate
Hardiness
4-7
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Korean Rhododendron is one of the earliest-blooming shrubs in cold climates, often flowering while snow is still on the ground.
  • It is one of the few rhododendrons that is fully deciduous, dropping all its leaves in autumn.
  • The vivid magenta-pink flowers appear on bare branches before any leaves emerge, creating a striking late-winter spectacle.
  • In Korea, it is called 'jindalrae' and is the provincial flower of North Hamgyong Province.
  • The cultivar 'Cornell Pink' was selected at Cornell University for its clear pink color and exceptional cold hardiness.

Color meanings

0

hope

1

renewal

2

first love

Uses

  • early spring garden interest
  • woodland edge planting
  • specimen shrub
  • mixed borders