Snow-white spring trusses and deep evergreen leaves, a calm, luminous anchor that makes shade gardens feel brighter and bigger
FEATURES:
- Snow-white flower trusses that glow in spring, especially in dappled woodland light
- Broadleaf evergreen foliage for year-round structure and screening
- A refined, classic habit that looks full and settled without feeling bulky
- Perfect “light maker” for shade: bright blooms against dark leaves create instant contrast
- Cold-hardy performance for dependable evergreen presence in cooler climates
- Beautiful in groups for a soft privacy screen and lush garden backdrop
- Hand Selected; Fresh from the Grower
- Ships on our trucks because the size of the tree - does not fit in a box.
Bower & Branch Landscape Design Tip:
White blooms in shade are a design cheat code. Place this where you want the eye to land, near a path bend, a seating area, or the edge of a woodland bed. Then keep the underplanting textural rather than colorful, ferns, sedges, and glossy-leaf groundcovers, so the spring bloom show looks intentional instead of busy.
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 4-8
- Mature Height: 5-7' tall
- Mature Width: 5-7' wide
- Exposure: Part Shade/Shade
- Spacing: 5-7' apart
Chionoides Rhododendron
Bower & Branch Trees and Plants
Rhododendron catawbiense 'Chionoides'
Regular price
Plant with Confidence when choosing Big & Tall Trees and Hedges!
Snow-white spring trusses and deep evergreen leaves, a calm, luminous anchor that makes shade gardens feel brighter and bigger
FEATURES:
- Snow-white flower trusses that glow in spring, especially in dappled woodland light
- Broadleaf evergreen foliage for year-round structure and screening
- A refined, classic habit that looks full and settled without feeling bulky
- Perfect “light maker” for shade: bright blooms against dark leaves create instant contrast
- Cold-hardy performance for dependable evergreen presence in cooler climates
- Beautiful in groups for a soft privacy screen and lush garden backdrop
- Hand Selected; Fresh from the Grower
- Ships on our trucks because the size of the tree - does not fit in a box.
Bower & Branch Landscape Design Tip:
White blooms in shade are a design cheat code. Place this where you want the eye to land, near a path bend, a seating area, or the edge of a woodland bed. Then keep the underplanting textural rather than colorful, ferns, sedges, and glossy-leaf groundcovers, so the spring bloom show looks intentional instead of busy.
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 4-8
- Mature Height: 5-7' tall
- Mature Width: 5-7' wide
- Exposure: Part Shade/Shade
- Spacing: 5-7' apart
Why plant Chionoides Rhododendron?
When most of the great flowering trees of spring are finishing up and summer Spirits have yet to show their colors, one stellar Accent bursts onto the scene. Catawba Rhododendron takes the stage, displaying big, beautiful bunches of lavender, pink, and white blooms for all to see. The voluptuous flowers are the perfect embodiment of that sweet season. Chionoides Catawba Rhododendron is a picture of grace and abundance at that time with its elegant clusters of crisp white blossoms. Use it in your foundation beds, where it will brighten your landscape when in bloom and provide welcome, lush greenery the rest of the year. Chionoides is a type of Catawba Rhododendron. From April through June, the Catawba Rhododendron lights up shady hillsides and forest understory in the Alleghany Mountains, bringing its rosy purple cheer to a region extending from southern Virginia to northern Alabama. Chionoides therefore has its roots in the U.S., but it also owes an allegiance to England, where it first appeared. A nurseryman named John Standish introduced it in 1867. Its name (pronounced ky-on-oh-EYE-deez) means “looks like snow” in Greek, and it’s not hard to imagine the rounded flower clusters as frosty-white snowballs.
How to use Chionoides Rhododendron in the landscape?
Some Rhododendrons can be a bit tricky to grow, but Chionoides is one of the most resilient. With proper care, it thrives in the colder states—down to -20ºF. It tolerates more sun than other Rhododendrons as well. This one is a winner!
How To Plant Chionoides Rhododendron
Catawba Rhododendron is tougher than many Rhododendrons, but it does appreciate good siting and aftercare. Plant Chionoides in part shade, in cool, acidic, well-drained soil for best results. Keep the rootzone moist but never soggy. An annual layer of organic mulch will help to retain moisture. Avoid harsh chemical fertilizers—Catawba Rhododendron is sensitive to overfeeding;a gentle organic product like Bower & Branch Elements™ Fertilizer is all that is needed if plants seem weak or “hungry.” Black vine weevil and Azalea lace bug can sometimes be an issue, but specimens grown in optimal conditions in most cases will remain healthy and resistant to attack.
Frequently Asked Questions
The blooms are snow white, forming rounded trusses in spring. In dappled light, the flowers look especially bright and clean.
It prefers acidic, well-drained soil with consistent moisture. Rhododendrons have shallow roots, so mulch helps keep roots cool and evenly moist, just keep mulch a few inches away from the stems. Avoid soggy soil, but don’t let it dry out during hot spells.
Deadheading spent flower trusses after bloom is optional but helps keep the plant tidy. If shaping is needed, prune lightly right after flowering. Avoid heavy pruning late in the season, since buds for next year develop on new growth.
