Southgate Breeze Rhododendron

The new Southgate® Breeze™ Rhododendron (Rhododendron 'Janet Blair') from the Southern Living Plant Collection is exactly what the doctor ordered for gardeners in the deep south! It produces blush pink buds that open up to powder-white blossoms with berry red blotches in the center. These flowers are arranged in tight clusters that are easily visible from some distance away. They're a spring display that can't be ignored!

The leaves are dark green and elongated. They're a perfect backdrop for the stunning symphony of flowers that appear in spring. Furthermore, they're evergreen. So they won't leave your landscape bare in winter.

The growth rate of Breeze Rhodendron is slow. Therefore, they're very easily maintained. At maturity, they reach an easily managed 4-5' H x 4-5' W.

Use them as specimens, accents in mixed garden beds, foundation plantings, containers, or even as hedges.

Southgate Breeze Rhododendron Care

• Hardy from USDA Zones 6-9. They're much more heat tolerant than traditional Rhododendrons while still remaining just as hardy in areas where they usually thrive.
• Plant in Part Sun to Shade. 1-3 hours of direct sun or all-day filtered sun will produce the best results.
• Water your new plantings 2-3 times per week during the first growing season. They may require more or less water, depending on the weather.
• Plant in slightly acidic soil with good drainage for best results.
• Fertilize with a slow-release acidic plant fertilizer in early spring.

Popular Companion Plants for the Southgate Breeze Rhododendron

• Planting a shade garden? Try it with some other shade-tolerant selections, the Florida Sunshine Illicium, Mountain Snow Pieris, and Soft Caress Mahonia.
• Taller plants or trees that create shady spots next to them, such as privacy screens or hedges, create great planting locations for these Rhododendrons to be tucked into. Juniper Trees and Dwarf Spruce Trees are two examples of these plants.
• It goes beautifully with other low-maintenance partial shade beauties with great texture, like the Lemon Lime Nandina or Mojo Pittosporum