Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
It’s tough yet dainty, with papery purple flowers filling a compact evergreen shrub. Purple Gem Rhododendron is a gorgeous addition to a garden bed or border. Smaller than many rhododendrons, Purple Gem grows to less than 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide, so it serves as an excellent year-round ground cover. In winter, it’s attractive enough with its dense cover of small green leaves. But beginning in May, it explodes with a purple color that nearly hides the foliage beneath.
The color and dense growth combine to make this plant excellent for a low border or just to fill a garden bed. This rhododendron can take the cold of zone 5 and heat up to zone 8. In addition, this is an easy-care plant that only needs partial sunlight. There is no need to remove flowers once they fade. Enjoy the rush of color to welcome late spring in your landscape with Purple Gem Rhododendron.
Purple Gem Rhododendron Care
Plant your rhododendron in a shady or partly sunny area (about 4 hours of sun a day or less) for best results in spring or early fall. Choose soil that drains well and mulch (about a 3-inch layer) after planting to help retain moisture around the plant. Rhododendrons prefer acidic soil, so amend with sulfur or another additive as needed. It prefers a slow soak of water that will reach deeply into the soil.
Fertilize your shrub in the spring with a 6-10-14 fertilizer. Prune the plant for shape after it is done flowering, cutting off faded flower stems. If the plant becomes larger than planned, you can prune it to only a foot or so above the ground every few years to rejuvenate the shrub. Cut back on watering in winter and replace mulch as needed in late fall.
Purple Gem Rhododendron Spacing
Space Purple Gem Rhododendron about 3 feet apart when planted as a border. Consider their low height when placing them behind or before other plants.
Purple Gem Rhododendron Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 - 8 |
| Plant Type: |
| Light Exposure: Partial Shade to Partial Sun (3 - 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 2 - 3 Feet |
| Mature Spread: 3 - 4 Feet |
| Spacing: 3 - 4 Feet |
| Habit: Upright |
| Flower Color(s): Purple |
| Flower Description: |
| Bloom Period: First Week of May |
| Foliage Type: Evergreen |
| Foliage Color(s): Green |
| Foliage Description: |
| Seasonal Interest: Spring Flowering |
| Watering: Average |
| Resists: Deer, Disease, Pests & Insects |
| Tolerates: Drought |
| Attracts: Butterflies |
| Container Role: |
| Uses: Borders, Containers, Hedges & Privacy, Mass Planting, Wildlife Gardens |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Deadheading Not Necessary, Low Maintenance |
| Brand: |
| Common Name: Purple Gem Rhododendron |
| Other Name(s): |
| Scientific Name: RHODODENDRON X `PURPLE GEM` |
- SKU:
- 1231000115-pc
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
| Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
|---|---|
| Zone 10 | March 31th |
| Zone 9 | March 31st |
| Zone 8 | April 7th |
| Zone 7 | April 14th |
| Zone 6b | April 21st |
| Zone 6a | April 28th |
| Zone 5b | May 5th |
| Zone 5a | May 12th |
| Zone 4 | May 19th |
| Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: Idaho, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!