Rhododendron 'Nova Zembla'

Quebec Multiplants

$29.99
Title

Ignite your landscape with the fiery brilliance of 'Nova Zembla'. This show-stopping evergreen is prized for its massive, rounded trusses of spectacular fuchsia-red flowers that emerge with dramatic intensity in mid-spring. Each trumpet-shaped blossom is delicately splashed with deep maroon blotches, creating a velvety richness that glows against a backdrop of large, glossy, dark green leaves. Its sturdy, upright habit provides a lush and polished presence, ensuring your garden remains vibrant and full of life even through the winter.

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Plant Details

Mature Size:

1.5m H x 1.2m W

Zone:

4-8

Watering:

Medium

Foliage Type:

Broadleaf Evergreen

Growth Rate:

Slow - Moderate

Light:

Part Sun/Part Shade

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Nova Zembla Rhododendron, Iron-Clad Rhododendron

Scientific Name:

Rhododendron x 'Nova Zembla'

Type:

Ornamental Evergreen Shrub

Growth Details:

  • Mature Size: Typically 5 to 8 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide.
  • Growth Habit / Form: Upright, spreading, and dense.
  • Growth Rate: Slow to moderate.
  • Longevity: Can live for 40 years or more under ideal conditions.

Environmental Needs:

  • Exposure: Partial sun to partial shade.
  • Soil Preferences: Requires organically rich, well-drained, acidic soil.
  • Soil Tolerance: Intolerant of standing water ("wet feet") and subject to leaf yellowing in alkaline soils.
  • Watering: Water deeply and regularly (once per week) during the first year to establish roots.

Special Features:

  • Resistances: Rabbit resistant and somewhat drought tolerant once established.
  • Attracts: Highly attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.
  • Award-Winning Heritage: Known as an "Iron-Clad" variety for its extreme vigor and cold hardiness.
Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

  • Bloom Information: Brilliant fuchsia-red to crimson trusses in mid-spring (May/June).
  • Winter Interest: Glossy, dark green evergreen foliage remains attractive year-round.

Garden Value:

Excellent for foundation plantings, privacy hedges, woodland margins, and as a vibrant landscape accent.

Wildlife & Human Value:

  • Wildlife Value: Important nectar source for early pollinators.
  • Human Value: Provides reliable privacy and low-maintenance structure. Note: All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

  • Best Time To Plant: Spring or early fall.
  • Spacing: 5–6 feet apart for massing or hedges.
  • Location Tips: Avoid planting near black walnut trees (juglone sensitivity) and shelter from harsh, drying winter winds.

Care:

  • Light Requirements: Best in partial shade or high open shade. While it tolerates more sun than most, it benefits from protection from intense afternoon heat.
  • Moisture Requirements: Requires consistent moisture; keep the soil moist but not soggy.
  • Maintenance: Low maintenance. Remove spent flower clusters immediately after blooming to tidy the plant and stimulate new growth.
  • Fertilization: Feed with an acid-loving plant fertilizer in spring after the bloom period finishes.

Tolerances:

Cold-hardy down to -32°C (-25°F); tolerant of heat and sun in cooler climates.

Tips For Success:

  • Mulching: Apply a thick layer of organic mulch (pine bark or needles) to retain moisture and cool roots.
  • Winter Protection: Use burlap wrap in exposed locations to prevent winter windburn.
  • Pruning: Only prune immediately after flowering to avoid cutting off next season's buds.
Fruit Profile