Knowledgebase

Bare Rhododendron #458471

Asked May 31, 2018, 3:26 PM EDT

Is there a way to get Rhododendrons to grow new leaves on the stem where old leaves have fallen off? This past winter seems to have been a rough one and my plant lost many of it's leaves this spring. I thought it was dead and was ready to cut it down and then I noticed it was starting to bloom. The flowers are beautiful but the rest of the plant is very leggy with few leaves to fill it in.

Sherburne County Minnesota

Expert Response

Be patient and the leaves will be replaced. It is a good sign that it is flowering, although flowering probably at the expense of leaves. Many plants/trees/shrubs are exhibiting similar patterns this year..flowering at the expense of leaves. The website below gives additional information. “It is normal for some rhododendrons to exhibit leaf droop and curl at around 32°F (0°C).; the lower the temperature the tighter the curl. Leaf movement occurs rapidly and it is reversible as temperature warms. Rhododendrons and evergreen azaleas lose some of their leaves each year. Typically leaves are retained for one to three years dependent on the variety. Leaves may turn yellow, red, or purple before they fall off. For some rhododendrons and azaleas the retained leaves turn red or bronze-colored in the cold months. In some azaleas the only leaves remaining are those that surround the flower buds at the tips of the branches. The degree of leaf coloration or loss is determined by a plant's genetics. In cold areas, certain evergreen azaleas may lose more leaves than they would in milder areas. “. Quoted from: https://www.rhododendron.org/protection.htm
Mary, Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor Replied May 31, 2018, 3:55 PM EDT

Loading ...