Rhododendrons That Don't Get Over 4 Feet Tall

The Rhododendron is the state flower of Washington. Hundreds of varieties thrive in our climate and their prolific blooms are a big part of the reason why spring is such a spectacular season in this region. Still, I've had lots of clients who don't like them. Mostly, their experience of rhodies is that they get huge, turn into big green uninteresting blobs, and block views from windows.

But that doesn't have to be the case. Here's a list of compact Rhododendrons that won't outgrow their welcome.

'Bow Bells' -- 3' -- deep pink buds, light pink flowers
'Cilpinense' -- 3' -- blush pink flower touched with deeper pink; blooms early
'Daphnoides' -- 4' -- unusual foliage, glossy green rolled leaves; purple flowers
'Dora Amateis' -- 3' -- white flower; fragrant
'Impeditum' -- 2' -- purple flower; gray green foliage
'Kimbeth' -- 3' -- deep pink buds through winter open to rosy, red-pink blooms
'Mardi Gras' -- 30" -- pink, blushed white flowers
'Molly Ann' -- 2' -- rose-pink flowers
'Mrs. Furnival' -- 4' -- light pink with striking blotch in center of flower
'Novo Brave' -- 3' --bright pink with a red blotch in center
'Patty Bee' -- 18" -- clear yellow flowers
'PJM' -- 4' -- tolerates cold, heat and sun; blooms early; bright lavender pink flower
'Ramapo' -- 2' -- pinkish-violet flower
'Rosamundi' -- 4' -- light pink flower, blooms very early in the year
'Sapphire' -- 30" -- light blue flowers; fragrant
'Scarlet Wonder' -- 2' -- glossy green leaves; brilliant red bloom, award winner
'Snow Lady' -- 30" -- white flowers resemble fallen snow; early bloomer
'Unique' -- 4' -- bright pink buds open to buttery yellow bloom

R. yakushimanum (also called "yaks") -- several cultivars, including 'Yaku Angel,' 'Mist Maiden,' and 'Ken Janeck' -- 1' - 4' depending on the cultivar; very hardy; pink buds open to pink-turning-white, bell-shaped flowers; resistant to root weevil

For more information on rhododendrons, I recommend Greer's Guidebook to Available Rhododendrons, by Harold Greer. I've used my copy so much, it is literally falling apart. It's held together now with scotch tape. This book is considered by many to be "the bible" on rhododendrons with descriptions and ratings of hundreds of cultivars.  He includes color photos of many flowers, as well.

MORE Good Deciduous Trees for Small Urban Gardens

In case you missed my earlier post listing 10 Good Deciduous Trees for Small Urban Gardens, you can access it here. Now here are 10 MORE good choices.

11. Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea Pendula' - Copper weeping beech

Size: 10' tall x 10' wide

Comments: Purple leaves; splendid accent plant; good in containers

12. Ginkgo biloba - Ginkgo

Size: 40+' tall x 20' wide

Comments: Very slow growing; unique leaf shape; deep gold fall color

13. Hamamelis mollis - Chinese witch hazel

Size: 10-15' tall and wide

Comments: Great small tree/shrub for year around interest; yellow to orange spidery flowers appear before leaves in winter, some varieties are fragrant; attractive leaf and branching patterns; great fall color ranging from yellow to red-orange.

14. Liquidamber styraciflua - American sweet gum

Size: to 25'

Comments: Fabulous fall color: red, yellow, purple; attractive bark

15. Oxydendron arboreum - Sourwood

Size: 15-20" tall x 20' wide

Comments: Pyramidal form; vivid fall color; creamy fragrant, bell-shaped flowers; seed capsules in fall

16. Parrotia persica - Persian ironwood

Size: 15-35' tall 

Comments: attractive year around, especially with fall color that changes from golden yellow, to orange to scarlet

17. Stewartia monadelpha - Tall stewartia

Size: to 25' tall

Comments: Brilliant red fall color; rich, brown, scaly bark becoming cinnamon-colored in age; graceful tree

18. Stewartia pseudocamellia - Japanese stewartia

Size: 30+' tall

Comments: Pyramidal form; slow growing; orange-red to purplse fall color; creamy white flowers in summer resemble those of cmellias; showy, peeling bark with shades of tan, green, grey, rust, terra cotta and cream.

19. Styrax japonica - Japanese snowbell tree

Size: up to 30' tall

Comments: Strong horizontal branching patterns; small, white, slightly fragrant snow-drop flowers line the undersides of branches in spring; clear yellow fall color

20. Styrax obassia - Fragrant snowbell

Size: 20-20' tall

Comments: Oval-round shape; white flowers same as above, but more fragrant; blooms somewhat later in the season; yellow fall color. 

For more information on these trees and much, much more, consult The New Sunset Western Garden Book. This is the newest edition of this classic garden guide, released in February, 2012.