Rhododendron 'Blitz' (Rhododendron)

'Blitz' rhododendron earns its name. The blooms are a deep, saturated scarlet-red, delivered in large trusses that cover the plant so thoroughly in spring that the dark green foliage nearly disappears beneath them. The color is bold and unambiguous, the kind of red that anchors a garden bed or makes a statement when viewed from across the yard. It is a compact to medium-sized rhododendron, well-suited to the scale of most residential gardens.

Plant 'Blitz' in a site with morning sun and afternoon shade, or in bright filtered light throughout the day. The Oregon coast's naturally acidic soils are ideal for rhododendrons, and the moderate temperatures and reliable moisture mean less supplemental irrigation than gardeners in drier inland areas need to provide.

After bloom, deadhead spent trusses by hand to redirect energy into the following year's buds, and avoid heavy pruning on established plants unless shaping is genuinely necessary.