Rhododendron 'Windbeam'

‘Windbeam’ azalea is a cold hardy deciduous woody shrub in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family.  This small cultivar grows to 3 to 4 feet high and wide with a somewhat straggly habit. The genus name derives from the Greek words rhodo, which means rose, and dendron, meaning tree. 

'Windbeam' is easy to grow, prefering moist, well-drained, acidic soils in dappled shade and protection from afternoon sun, which can scorch the leaves. They do not tolerate dense clay, so if you have clay soil, amend with organic material. Pruning, if desired, may be done after flowering.  The flowers are pink and showy and appear in mid-spring and the leaves are small and fragrant when crushed.  Dead head the flowers to encourage new growth.  This cultivar is resistant to browsing by rabbits.

The semi-dwarf habit of ‘Windbeam’ makes it suitable for use in a container on a patio or in another small space.  It is at home in a pollinator, cottage, or woodland garden where its fragrant, showy flowers will attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.  The showy flowers and interesting leaves make it a great accent plant, or plant it in a row to make small hedge or use it along the front of a shrub border.

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. 

While these shrubs 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 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.