Rhododendron ‘Nova Zembla’ – A Striking Shrub with Bold Red Blooms
Rhododendron ‘Nova Zembla’ is a stunning evergreen shrub, known for its eye-catching clusters of vibrant red flowers that bloom in mid to late spring. The large, trumpet-shaped blossoms create a dramatic and fiery display, adding bold colour to any garden. Reaching a height of 150–180 cm, this variety is perfect for borders, hedges, or as a focal point in both large and small landscapes. Its glossy dark green foliage provides a beautiful contrast to the striking red blooms, ensuring year-round interest and structure.
Why Grow Rhododendron ‘Nova Zembla’?
Vibrant Red Blooms – The striking clusters of bright red flowers provide a dramatic and bold display in mid to late spring, offering an eye-catching burst of colour to the garden. The vivid blossoms stand out beautifully against the dark green foliage.
Upright & Bushy Habit – Growing to a height of 150–180 cm, ‘Nova Zembla’ has an upright, bushy growth habit, making it an excellent choice for adding height and structure to garden borders, mixed shrub beds, or hedges. Its dense form makes it a perfect backdrop for other plants and provides vertical interest.
Evergreen Foliage – The rich, dark green leaves of Rhododendron ‘Nova Zembla’ offer year-round appeal, providing a solid and attractive backdrop for the vibrant blooms. The evergreen foliage retains its glossy appearance throughout all seasons, adding structure and colour to the landscape.
Hardy & Low Maintenance – ‘Nova Zembla’ is a hardy and resilient shrub, well-suited to a variety of growing conditions. Once established, it requires minimal care, making it a great choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners.
Pollinator-Friendly – The abundant red flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making Rhododendron ‘Nova Zembla’ an excellent choice for creating a wildlife-friendly garden that supports local ecosystems.
Planting & Care Guide
Position: Prefers partial shade but can tolerate some full sun, particularly in cooler climates. It thrives best in sheltered spots, protected from strong winds that could damage its flowers and foliage.
Soil: Best suited to well-drained, acidic soil rich in organic matter. Rhododendrons prefer slightly acidic pH (4.5–6.0) and benefit from consistent moisture, particularly during the growing season.
Watering: Water regularly when newly planted to ensure the soil stays moist but not waterlogged. Once established, ‘Nova Zembla’ is moderately drought-tolerant but benefits from consistent moisture, especially during dry spells.
Maintenance:
- Deadhead spent flowers to maintain a neat appearance and prevent the plant from self-seeding, although it will naturally die back after flowering.
- Prune lightly after flowering to shape the shrub and remove any dead or damaged growth.
- Mulch around the base to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the roots cool during warmer months.
Perfect Plant Combinations
Rhododendron ‘Nova Zembla’ pairs beautifully with other spring-blooming perennials such as Hellebores, Bleeding Heart (Dicentra), or Astilbes, where the bold red flowers create a striking contrast with other colourful blooms. It also blends well with other Rhododendrons or Azaleas, creating a stunning multi-colour display in mixed shrub borders. For added drama, combine with plants that have dark foliage, such as Heuchera or Bergenia, to make the red flowers pop. This Rhododendron is also perfect for creating a focal point in a woodland or shaded garden, where its fiery blooms stand out against a backdrop of green.
Does the height include the pot?
No, we measure from the top of the pot to the tip of the plant except for some of the instant planted screens, in this case it will be stated in the description
How long does delivery take?
Most orders are delivered in just a few days, Smaller items are often sent with Parcelforce on a next day service, Larger items should allow up to 10 days due to the size of the items they often have to be sent on our own transport.
Where will you leave my plants?
We will leave your order at the front of your property, Parcelforce may
leave your items in a safe place if you let us know, Pallet couriers
will require a flat hard surface to deliver to, no gravel or soil, a
driveway or parking spot would be best. Most importantly Deliveries by
pallet courier will require access for a large truck (bin lorry sized)
to get near the delivery point. Deliveries sent on our own transport may come in a small van or larger truck.
