Rhododendron 'Checkmate'

Common Name: Rhododendron 'Checkmate'

Scientific Name: Rhododendron hybrid (lepidote) 'Checkmate'

Zone: 5 to 8

Blossom Colour: Lavender-pink

Flowering Type: Small, openly funnel-shaped flowers, approximately 1⅝ inches across, with wavy edges; arranged in ball-shaped trusses of about 15 flowers; blooms in early spring

Summer Colour: Dark green foliage

Fall Colour: Foliage turns a glossy mahogany color in winter

Mature Height (ft): 2 to 3

Mature Spread (ft): 2 to 3

Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Tree Type: Broadleaf evergreen shrub

Watering: Prefers evenly moist, well-drained, acidic soil; avoid waterlogged conditions

Fertilization: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants in early spring before new growth emerges