The Site Gardener

Plant Library

Explore 4,545 plants, with photos and growing details.

Back to Tools

← Back to plant results

Rhododendron April Rose

April Rose Rhododendron

April Rose (Rhododendron ‘April Rose’) is an evergreen rhododendron with red flowers. Its display arrives early in the rhododendron flowering season, with the exact timing influenced by local weather. Individual flowers measure about 1½ to 2 inches across. Extra petals give the individual flowers a double form. The flowers have a degree of fragrance.

The plant develops upright branching. Its foliage is retained through winter, keeping a leafy framework between flowering seasons. Cool-season foliage can develop bronze and red tones. It can provide a flowering focal point within a mixed shrub border or woodland-edge planting.

Give it acidic, humus-rich soil that stays moist and drains freely. A sheltered position with filtered light or morning sun is a useful starting point; protect the roots from prolonged drying and keep mulch clear of the stems.

Size guide
• Height: About 3 ft at 10 years; growth continues afterward
• Width: Allow for the cultivar’s natural branch spread; a verified numerical spread is not available in this reference.

Hardiness
• Approximate cold tolerance: -25°F
• USDA cold-limit equivalent: Zone 4b
This equivalence is calculated from the published temperature rating. Local conditions and summer climate also affect performance.

Best Uses
• Border
• Woodland Gardens
• Accent Plant

Plant type
Broadleaf Evergreen, Evergreen Shrub, Flowering evergreen shrub
Height
3 ft+
Width
4'-5'
Hardiness zones
4b–8
Sunlight
Part shade
Bloom time
Spring to summer
Flower color
Red
Leaf color
Dark Green
Fall color
Bronze, Red
Attracts
Butterflies
Soil
Acidic, Humus rich, Moist well-drained
Landscape use
Accent Plant, Border, Woodland Gardens
Shape
Upright
Bark
Smooth
Fruit
No
Fragrant
Yes
Deer resistant
No
Salt tolerant
No
Drought tolerant
No
10-year height
3 ft