Rhododendron, Dexter Rhododendron 'Scintillation'

One of my favorite rhododendrons for eastern Massachusetts.

Big glossy leaves, dense habit, robust growth, large flowers,...Read More and hardy into Z5. What's not to like?

It's hard to see in photographs, but the pink flowers have a white star in the center, and the contrast between the white and pink make the flowers scintillate when seen in person.

This grows 6' tall and wide in 10 years or so, and in time can get over 10' unless pruned regularly.

Deer food preferences vary locally, but Rhododendrons are usually considered prime deer fodder.

One of this plant's ancestors is clearly R. fortunei.

Bred by Charles Dexter in Sandwich, MA before 1943.

Scintillation is not only a terrific flowering shrub, but the dense growth habit and unique foliage make it a fantastic year-around plant...Read More. The leaves are the only rhododendron leaves I know of that have rounded tips unlike the typical pointed leaves on other varieties. Moreover, the leaves are very flat as opposed to the usual curled leaves seen on other varieties. Scintillation has become one of the most widely used rhododendrons and very deservedly so.

My Scintillation rhodo was growing really well in a 20" round redwood planter. It grew to about 5' H x 5' W. It bloomed reliably and co...Read Moreuld take morning sun up to noon without burning. Two summers ago, it was pruned severely after blooming reducing it to a 3'x3' size and it never regained its previous vigor. I'm not sure about the connection with the severe pruning. I eventually had to get rid of it because it looked like it was about to die. When it was in bloom it was a sight to behold. When I cut the limbs open, there was a dark spot on each of the major limbs. Not sure if it was fungus that killed the plant or that's just the way the limbs were.

Scintillation is the most dependable, consistant bloomer in my south-west Michigan garden. I've grown it for more than 20 years. If I h...Read Moread to choose only one rhodo., Scintillation would be it. Mine is 8ft.x 8ft.