The rhododendron is a pop recurrent bush with downy pink blossoms . If you ’re reckon add together one of these lovely plant to your garden , you might enquire if they lose their leaves in the pin and winter . This is specially important to consider if you live in a place with frigid wintertime . Well , do n’t care . We ’ve done the enquiry and will partake the solution with you in this article !
Most rhododendrons are moot evergreen . However , similar to how conifers lose needle , they will lose some of their leaves every downslope and winter . How much they recede depend on the variety .
While most rhododendron are classified as evergreen , a few varieties are conceive deciduous and lose most or all of their leaves during the cold months . They are usually known as azaleas .

Additionally , the leaves of some deciduous variety change from smart green to reddened , bronze , and purpleness in the nightfall .
In the rest of this clause , we ’ll divvy up some exercise of rhododendron motley from each category . Hopefully , this will avail you decide which of these gorgeous flowering bush is the ripe alternative for your garden !
So , let ’s get start out !

Do Rhododendrons Lose Their Leaves In The Fall/Winter?
Most rhododendrons keep their folio all fall and wintertime and are consult to asevergreen . That stand for that they ’ll be a dapple of gorgeous color in your garden , even in the cold month of the year . The elision to this rule are chiefly found in the genusesR. mucronulatum and R. dauricum .
Deciduousrhododendrons are the varieties that lose their leaves every fall , and they ’re often referred to as deciduous azaleas . A bit bewilderingly , all azaleas are rhododendrons , but not all rhododendrons are azaleas !
For this article , we ’ll apply the condition rhododendron and azalea interchangeably to bear on to shrubs that may have the common name of azalea .

Which Rhododendrons Keep Their Leaves In The Fall/Winter?
If you ’re interested in growing rhododendron that provide optic interestingness in your garden all class round , you ’ll need to see evergreen variety . Here are some popular examples of evergreen rhododendrons :
R.' Elviira'
This rhododendron is on the smaller size , reaching altitude of 2 feet after about ten years . It has big , promising red blooming couple with oblong leaves of glossy green . As a hybrid , it ’s hardy and can endure temperatures down to -25 degrees Fahrenheit .
R.‘Boule de Neige'
A bit taller than our premature choice , the ' Boule de Neige ' tops off around 3 to 4 metrical unit tall . Its flowers start their life rhythm as pinkish buds , later growing and fade to fluffy blank flowers , as the name suggests . This mixed bag is easy to grow and endure dusty to -25 level Fahrenheit .
R. ‘Windsong’
The ' Windsong ' miscellany has frilly , pale yellow blossoms set against shiny , morose immature leaves . It can grow 4 to 5 invertebrate foot grandiloquent and 6 feet wide over a ten , making it a good choice for a border or privateness pulley .
This premium variety is a piddling more challenging to discover but worthwhile when you do due to its fantastic growing performance . However , it ’s also more sensible to the cold , surviving only to zero degree Fahrenheit .
R.' Nova Zembla'
This fuchsia - hued rhododendron loves the low temperature , and with its evergreen leaves , it also looks the part . At 5 infantry blanket and marvellous , it lay down a gorgeous background for the rest of your garden . It ’s tough , revalue partial shade , and reach peak bloom in mid - spring .
Which Rhododendrons miss Their Leaves In The Fall / Winter ?
As we discussed earlier , most leaf - shedding rhododendron are in the genus R. mucronulatum and R. dauricum . Many of them also change colors before shedding their leaves in previous fall . These varieties include :

R. calendulaceum
Also prognosticate the " Flame Azalea , " this deciduous azalea commands attention no matter where you engraft it . The flowers descend in a multifariousness of people of colour ranging from pale white-livered to vivid crimson .
likewise , the leaf change from bright greenish in the summer to yellow and red in the autumn . Growing to a stature and breadth of 6 to 12 feet , it would make a bully seclusion cylinder block or barrier .
R. occidentale ‘Western Azalea’
As one of only two rhododendron variety native to the west coast of North America , the Western azalea is a gorgeous addition to this list . Its pink or bloodless flowers have a strong fragrance , unlike most rhododendrons .
hit pinnacle of between 4 and 15 foot , this variety slicing into quick shadowiness of Orange River and icteric as the weather cools .
‘Cecile’[Exbury]
This rhododendron hybrid originated in England and is a low - maintenance bush that prefers low - visible radiation conditions . It grows to heights of 4 to 10 foot and widths of 4 to 6 feet and has big flowers in orange , red , and yellow tones .
Because of this , it ’s an eye - grab works that could provide a great focal point for your garden .
Gibraltar[Exbury]
Another English cross , the Gibraltar azalea , has huge , burnt orange blossom that bloom every bounce . This variety show can grow to 5 to 6 feet magniloquent over ten long time and is typically narrow than its tallness . As a deciduous sort , it can endure more sunlight than evergreens .
Which Rhododendrons Change Colors In The Fall/Winter?
Most lepidote , or scaly - leaved rhododendrons , changeto shades of dingy cherry-red , violet , and bronze in the cold - weather months . If you ’d like to invite some beautiful autumn color into your garden , you should consider one of the following varieties :
R. groenlandicum
This bantam plant grows to only about two foot tall over ten years . It has little white flowers and can be used to make a type of herbal tea . Since it originated in Greenland and northerly North America , it ’s very insensate hardy and can survive up to -25 degree Fahrenheit .
R. minus
uprise in the forested mountains of the mid - Atlantic United States , this potpourri flourish in damp and dimly - lit conditions . It has modest , delicately colored blossoms of pale pinkish and white and turn to be about 3 to 6 foot tall and all-inclusive .
Be measured , though , because although this is a fantastic works to grow to draw pollinators , it ’s incredibly toxic to human and many animals !
R.' White Lights'
Covered with frilly pallid pinkish heyday every spring , the ' White Lights ' rhododendron is a hard loanblend that develop to heights of 4 to 5 invertebrate foot . It can tolerate full sun in frigid region but need fond spook to avoid scorching in southern sunlight .
Before the parting shake off each twilight , they turn igneous shades of red , orange , and yellowed .
R. luteum
Also love as the " honeysuckle azalea " because of its long , narrow yellowish flowers , this rhododendron ’s foliage release into promising reddish , yellow , and orange quality each fall . Just do n’t try eat it , as the ambrosia is very vicious !
It grows to about 4 to 5 feet tall and wide and grows well in fond wraith in warmer region .
What Do Rhododendron Look Like In Winter?
Since there are so many types of rhododendron , the answer to this motion looks slimly unlike reckon on the variety . We ’ll enquire each of the three family discussed earlier so you could more easily visualize what your rhododendron will look like during the cold-blooded month .
If you ’re curious about other way to care for your rhododendron over the winter , check out our clause " Can You Cut Rhododendrons To The Ground ? "
What Do Evergreen Rhododendron Look Like In Winter?
Evergreen rhododendron will retain their shiny dark-green leaves all wintertime long . If you live in a snowy region , this provides a dramatic contrast against the white snow . Do n’t be alarmed if some of the leaves drop over the wintertime , as this is utterly normal and does n’t indicate any trouble with your bush .
Your rhododendron ’s leaves might also droop when temperatures reach freeze and curl tightly at about ten degrees cooler . Do n’t care because this is but how the leaves protect themselves from inhuman temperature and fart .
What Do Deciduous Rhododendron Look Like In Winter?
Since deciduous rhododendrons fall back most or all of their leave of absence each drop , the structural quality of their trunk and branches will be revealed .
Although you wo n’t have the bright K of evergreen varieties , deciduous rhododendron are an excellent choice if you ’d like a bush that will fade into the background every wintertime . Plus , many of these diverseness turn beautiful coloring material before losing their foliage .
What Do Rhododendron That Change Colors Look Like In Winter?
As the name advise , evergreen rhododendron retain their bright to dark green leaf throughout the wintertime . This mean you wo n’t get a show of colors in the autumn . Therefore , rhododendrons that change colour in the downslope will mislay their leafage by winter .
In Closing
While most rhododendrons are evergreen , some varieties lose their leaves in the winter . Many of these varieties are commonly known as azaleas , and their foliage turns reddened , orange , or yellow in the free fall . We desire this clause give you some ideas of which rhododendron variety will be the unadulterated addition to your garden !
Check out this clause for more advice on keeping your rhododendron felicitous and levelheaded : " What Is Eating My Rhododendrons ? 9 Pests To Consider . "
