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‘Strawberry Ice’ Exbury Azalea Rhododendron 'Strawberry Ice'

Phonetic Spelling
roh-do-DEN-dron
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

‘Strawberry Ice’ is a compact, deciduous, rounded, upright azalea cultivar in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family. This cultivar was developed in England in1947 by L. de Rothschild. It will reach an ultimate height of 6 feet tall and wide in about 10 to 20 years. The genus name derives from the Greek words rhodo, which means rose, and dendron, meaning tree. 

Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-draining, organically rich, acidic soil. Add a layer of organic mulch to provide the roots with a moist and cool environment. It may need some frost protection to prevent damage to flower buds in the early spring. Avoid overwatering and over-fertilizing. Pruning, if desired, may be done after flowering. 

Its deep pink buds open to a peachy apricot with yellow shading from May to June, and while the flowers are not fragrant like other azaleas, it is an easy to grow, showy addition to any landscape.

With its compact habit, it is ideal for use along a foundation, slope, or garden wall. Plant it in groups in a mixed or shrub border. The showy flowers make it an ideal specimen in a cottage or courtyard garden or other small space.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Insect problems include aphids, borers, lacebugs, leafhoppers, mealybugs, mites, nematodes, scale, thrips, and whitefly. Diseases include canker, crown rot, root rot, leaf spot, rust, and powdery mildew. Suffers from leaf and twig blight, shoot dieback, and sudden oak death. 

While rhododendrons remain very popular for landscape use, many cultivars are susceptible to Phytophthora root rot—this leads to leaf loss, reduced vigor, branch dieback, and wilting. Implement good cultural practices first, such as improving drainage with organic matter or berms and avoiding overwatering or overfertilization. However, if you have a site with a history of this disease, consider planting one of the root rot-resistant alternative species listed in the left-hand sidebar. For other suitable alternatives, see this video created by Charlotte Glen as part of the Plants, Pests, and Pathogens series.

 VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Rhododendron.

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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#easy to grow#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#low maintenance#slopes#cottage garden#mixed borders#upright form#flowering shrub#courtyard garden#flowers late spring#flowers early summer#small group plantings#compact habit#garden walls#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#shrub borders#flowers midspring#flowers spring
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#easy to grow#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#low maintenance#slopes#cottage garden#mixed borders#upright form#flowering shrub#courtyard garden#flowers late spring#flowers early summer#small group plantings#compact habit#garden walls#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#shrub borders#flowers midspring#flowers spring
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Rhododendron
    Family:
    Ericaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Rounded
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Pink
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Trumpet
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Deep pink buds open to 3" wide trumped shaped peach-pink flowers with veins and a little yellow in the throat. Blooms from mid-spring to early summer in groups of up to 23 flowers.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Mid-green simple alternate oblong leaves with entire margins. New growth as well as fall color is bronze
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Rock Wall
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Small groups
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    Poison Symptoms:
    Salivation, watering of eyes and nose, abdominal pain, loss of energy, depression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, cardiac failure, difficult breathing, progressive paralysis of arms and legs, coma.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Andromedotoxin, Grayantoxin
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Bark
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Sap/Juice