Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Are you looking for a vivid spring showstopper to add to your landscape? Purple Passion Rhododendron hits every mark with rich violet-colored blossoms displayed against densely packed, broad-leafed, forest-green foliage that will retain its color throughout winter. This evergreen shrub is hardy in Zones 4 through 8 and blooms May through June. With a lifespan of up to 40 years, captivate your guests and loved ones with this striking and dependable purple crowd-pleaser for decades to come.
Incredibly low maintenance, this rhododendron requires no deadheading and is perfect for attracting pollinators such as bees to your landscape. The broad, rounded leaves add texture and depth to your landscape like no other rhododendron. Its exceptional blooms make it perfect for use as a statement, planting in groups, or showcasing in containers. This evergreen shrub has long legs clearing a foot off the ground, optimal for growing with a shorter groundcover plant.
Purple Passion Rhododendron Care
This shrub will flourish in full to partial sun away from hot and dry areas of your landscape. It can be a bit picky about soil types. It loves rich, moist but well-draining, acidic soils. If planted in alkaline soil, the leaves may turn yellow; this can be amended by adding an acidic pH modifier from any garden or hardware store. Water often, twice weekly, during the first season to aid your plant in creating a deep and healthy root system. Once properly established in your landscape, it should only need watering if it hasn't rained in about 2 or 3 weeks. After the first bloom has passed, fertilize your plant with a high-acid fertilizer. Next, apply a thick layer of mulch over the roots to help with temperature stabilization, avoiding the main stem's base.
Trim back to just above a set of leaves directly after the blooms fade in late spring. Pruning at any other time, besides removing dead or diseased branches, could reduce the foliage yield and blooms the following season.
Purple Passion Rhododendron Spacing
This rhododendron has a height and width of 5 to 6 feet. Space your plantings with enough room to grow to their full size, about 5 feet apart. Its size makes it perfect for planting under power lines.
Purple Passion Rhododendron Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Shade to Part Sun (0-6 Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 5-6 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 5-6 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Purple
- Flower Description
- Purple
- Bloom Time
- Mid to Late Spring
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Deep Green
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Purple Passion Rhododendron
- Botanical Name
- Rhododendron 'Purple Passion'
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
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
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 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.
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: 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!