Lee's Dark Purple Rhododendron

An upright, compact, rounded evergreen shrub reaching 6 feet in 10 years and 8 to 10 feet at maturity. Broadly funnel-shaped flowers, 2⅓ inches wide, deep royal purple with greenish-brown to ochre marks within, carried in ball-shaped trusses of about 16 blooms. Late-midseason flowering. A hybrid of R. catawbiense crossed with an unknown parent, selected before 1851 by John Lee of Lee and Kennedy Nursery, London (RHS 58). OSU rates flower quality 2-3, plant and foliage 3-4, and performance 4 on a 1-5 scale.

The deepest purple coloration commonly available in elepidote rhododendrons. Catawbiense-derived hardiness and sun tolerance make it tough and adaptable. Hardy to -15°F (Zone 5b-9a). Part sun to full sun on acidic, well-drained soil (pH 4.5-6.0). The moderate flower quality rating (2-3/5 OSU) reflects relatively small individual flowers compared to modern hybrids of similar size, but the color intensity is unmatched. Twenty-one diseases and 15 pests documented at the genus level. All parts contain grayanotoxins and are toxic if ingested.