Rhododendron 'Blue Peter'
Common name: 
Blue Peter Rhododendron
Pronunciation: 
rho-do-DEN-dron
Family: 
Ericaceae
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf evergreen shrub, 4.5 ft (1.4 m), often wider than tall.  Leaves elliptic, acute apex, concave, glossy, matte dark green.  Flower lavender with a prominent purple/black blotch (flare) and very frilled margin, about 7 cm wide, stamens unequal and white-hairy at the base; about 15 flowers per tight, conical clusters.
  • -15°F, middle, 4/2-3/3 [flower / plant & foliage / performance; scale 1 (poor) - 5 (best)].  Sun and heat tolerant, vigorous, cold hardy, and easily propagated.  Especially popular in the eastern U.S., but also popular with weevils.
  • Hybridizer: Waterer and Crisp, unknown parentage, introduced in the mid-1930s.  Received the Royal Horticulture Society's Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: Autzen House, 8th St. and Jefferson Ave.
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  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flower clusters and leaves

    flower clusters and leaves

  • flower cluster

    flower cluster

  • flowers

    flowers

  • leaves and bud

    leaves and bud