‘Strawberry Ice’ Exbury Azalea Rhododendron 'Strawberry Ice'

‘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.