With their showy clusters of colorful flower and lucullan green leave , rhododendron are one of the most popular flowering shrubs But what if you spot a plant that resembles a rhododendron but are n’t sure if it actually is one ? Many plant life share interchangeable traits with rhododendron , making identification tricky
In this article we ’ll research 8 plant that are often mistaken for rhododendron and leave tips on severalise them apart . Read on to become a rhododendron lookalike expert !
First , let ’s do a quick overview of rhododendron feature of speech . rhododendron are woody shrubs in the heath family , with orotund evergreen plant leaves . Depending on coinage , they make summit between 1 - 20 feet .
rhododendron produce showy blooms in spring and summer . Flower colors include white , pinkish , red , empurpled , jaundiced and orangish . The blooms grow in obtuse clump at the outgrowth tips .
With over 1,000 mintage worldwide , rhododendrons produce across Asia , Europe , and North America . Some pop garden varieties let in Catawba , Rosebay , P.J.M. and Encore azalea .
Now let ’s look at some common rhododendron doppelgangers .
8 Rhododendron Lookalikes
1. Mountain Laurel
Native mountain laurel ( Kalmia latifolia ) is often confused with rhododendron . It has the same showy fleeceable ovate leaves and grows as a multi - stemmed shrub .
However , batch bay wreath has clusters of small white or pink flowers with a pipe bowl shape , unlike rhododendron ’s bell - shaped blossom . It also lose its leaves in winter .
2. Oleander
With its shining leave and terminal flower clusters , oleander ( Nerium oleander ) resemble rhododendron . But rose bay has narrow lancet - shape leaves and 5 - petaled flowers . It ’s also an evergreen shrub .
3. Hibiscus
Tropical hibiscus shares similarity like woody stanch and showy flowers . But hibiscus has maple - shaped leave of absence and huge colorful blooms . The flowers only last a Clarence Shepard Day Jr. compare to weeks for rhododendron .
4. Azalea
azalea belong to the Rhododendron genus but are deciduous while most rhododendron are evergreen . Azalea flowers also have 5 stamens while rhododendron have 10 . Most azalea are smaller shrubs under 6 feet tall .
5. Chinese Magnolia
Chinese magnolia ( Magnolia x soulangeana ) can resemble rhododendron from afar . But up nigh , you could see the classifiable tulip - influence white magnolia flowers with a stiff redolence . The leaves are also smooth - edged rather than toothed .
6. Frangipani
Though frangipani ( Plumeria rubra ) partake in a exchangeable sizing and leaf shape with rhododendron , its fragrant , bright biased bloom are unique . Frangipani leaves are also arrange in turbinate clusters along the branches rather than opposite each other .
7. Andromeda
This little genus in the heath menage can be confuse with dwarf rhododendron varieties . However , andromeda produces small bell - influence flowers in dangling clusters . The leaves are also very narrow and revolve under at the edges .
8. Peach Trees
From a space , peach tree flowers look similar to pale rhododendron flush . But peach trees have serrated , lance - forge leaves that turn over violent in fall . The bloom are also much lighter pink and have a strong redolence .
How to Identify the Real Thing
Here are some tips for confidently discover a true rhododendron :
Using these rhododendron identification remind along with comparing other feature film like leaves , flowers and growth habit will help you correctly secernate rhodos asunder from lookalike plants .
HOW TO PLANT Rhododendrons in Containers – Flowering Shrubs
FAQ
What shrub is standardized to a rhododendron ?
How to tell the remainder between rhododendron and mount laurel ?
How to tell the difference between azalea and rhododendron ?
What are rhododendrons bedevil with ?
What plants see like rhododendrons ?
Mountain Laurel – the same leaves and ontogenesis figure as many rhododendrons . Hibiscus – the peak and plant structure resemble rhododendrons . Oleander – the flowers develop in similar patterns to those on a rhododendron Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Frangipani – the folio have a similar elongated shape , and the bloom also resemble that of a rhododendron .
Which Rhododendrons grow best ?
Here is a fistful of diversity that we recall you ’ll love : ‘ Blue Diamond ’ is a gnome evergreen rhododendron that grows to 3 base . It blossom mid - time of year with violet - juicy flowers . Zones 7 to 9 . ‘ Cecile ’ is a vigorous azalea that grow to 7 ft and produces dark Salmon River - pink buds in mid - time of year .
What rhododendron have purplish flower ?
Purple Gem – This early - blooming dwarf rhododendron cultivar grows only two feet high and displays small empurpled flowers , making it perfect for front molding . Rubiginosum – This multifariousness is a small tree cultivar that can rise up to 20 feet high-pitched . produce trumpet - mould flowers that range from pallid lavender to blench pink .
What are the different type of rhododendron plants ?
There ’re several rhododendron varieties including rhododendron Elviira , rhododendron blue peter , nova zembla , Rhododendron Boule De Neige , rhododendron Windsong , rhododendron bow bells , etc . In this article , we will be talking about the 15 most popular types of rhododendron plants . Let ’s get started !
