Rhododendron minus var. chapmanii

Chapman's rhododendron is a woody, open form, deciduous shrub in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family that reaches a mature height and width of 3 to 6 feet. This is an endangered variety that is very heat tolerant and native to the piedmont region of Florida. Chapman’s rhododendron has a very limited distribution. It can be found in the flatwoods and swampy edges of Clay County in the central panhandle and in Gadsden, Leon, Liberty, Calhoun, Gulf, and Franklin Counties in the northern panhandle. The genus name derives from the Greek words rhodo, which means rose, and dendron, meaning tree.

Plant this rhododendron in high, bright shade to partial shade. Soils should be well-drained sandy loam, with high organic content, and acidic. It has rose pink flowers in the spring that are exquisite and borne in clusters that appear before the thick leathery leaves. This plant is not tolerant of salt spray, so be mindful in coastal areas.  Prune rhododendrons and azaleas after they bloom to preserve the current season's bloom, and allow time for the plant to produce flower buds for next year's bloom.  Rhododendrons and azaleas set next year's flower buds by mid to late summer. 

Grow this plant in a container on a patio. In the landscape use it in a mass planting as cultivated woody shrubs in an understory forest or natural area. The plant attracts hummingbirds and bees so would be at home as a specimen or in small groups in a pollinator garden or as part of a mixed or shrub border planting.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Insect problems include aphids, borers, lace bugs, leafhoppers, mealybugs, mites, nematodes, scale, thrips and whitefly. Diseases include canker, crown rot, root rot, leaf spot, rust, and powdery mildew. Full sun can scorch the leaves, and the roots rot if soil does not drain well. This plant is frequently damaged by deer.

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. For 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.

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