11 Dwarf Rhododendron Varieties For Compact Garden Spaces

Rhododendrons are large shrubs with gorgeous spring flowers. These flowers are easy to grow and loved by many gardeners for their ease of care. But did you know that there are many different sizes of these shrubs, including smaller dwarf rhododendron varieties?

Dwarf rhododendron varieties will typically grow from 1-3 feet in height. These evergreen shrubs will brighten your gardens in the spring with their candy-colored blooms. Their leaves will hold up all year long, keeping your garden looking sharp no matter the season.

Let’s take a look at a few dwarf rhododendron varieties that would work wonders for your springtime gardens.

‘Blue Tit’

	bloom colors Purple
	height 2 feet tall in 10 years
	hardiness zones 6-10

The flowers on ‘Blue Tit’ are so light purple, many think this shrub blooms in a periwinkle blue. Blooming in early to mid-spring, this rhododendron will be covered in clusters of flowers. The clusters hold 3-5 flowers in trusses that will deepen in color as they age.

The foliage on this variety is evergreen and will hold its dark green color all year round. The leaves are about one inch long and accent the purple flowers beautifully. This dwarf rhododendron variety is great for containers or small garden spaces. Its bloom time is early to mid spring.

‘Dreamland’

	bloom colors Pink
	height 3 feet in 10 years
	hardiness zones 6-9

‘Dreamland’ is a Yakushima variety. Many varieties from this group are small in size, and ‘Dreamland’ just happens to be another beautiful variety! These dwarf rhododendron varieties are loved for their large trusses of up to 22 flowers. 

These flowers will bloom in mid-spring, pale pink with frilly deeper pink edges to their petals. The matte green leaves are evergreen and will maintain their color year-round with no notable fall color. Try using this variety in a container or in a mass planting as a low-growing border plant or hedge.

‘Fragrantissimum’

	bloom colors White
	height 3 feet in 10 years
	hardiness zones 8-11

If you are looking for white dwarf rhododendron varieties, this is a great choice! With a blush outside petals, ‘Fragrantissium’ has white flowers with a bright yellow throat. The flower petals are frilly and trussed loosely together in groups of 4 flowers. These bloom in early to mid spring.

These flowers are extremely fragrant and have a hint of honeysuckle. The evergreen foliage is a very deep green that will last throughout the year. Be sure to plant ‘Fragrantissimum’ somewhere in your garden where you spend a lot of time so you can enjoy all of its splendor.

‘Ginny Gee’

	bloom colors White, Pink
	height 2 feet in 10 years
	hardiness zones 6-8

‘Ginny Gee’ is one of the most beautiful dwarf rhododendron varieties. The primary color of the flowers are white, however, they have bright pink edges to their petals. These early to mid spring-blooming flowers are grouped together in a truss of 3-5 flowers.

The foliage is evergreen with deep green leaves. In the fall, the leaves will take on shades of red. ‘Ginny Gee’ is a tough plant and is tolerant of cold, heat, and sunshine. Try planting in an area of your yard that has a bit more sun or in a container that gets partial sun.

‘Ken Janeck’

	bloom colors Pink
	height 3 feet in 10 years
	hardiness zones 5-9

This may just be the prettiest pink rhododendron out there, and it’s a compact-sized shrub! ‘Ken Janeck’ flowers bloom in mid-spring in a pretty shade of pink. As these flowers age, the centers of the flowers will fade to white.

You will see some green freckles on the upper petals. These pretty flowers are clustered together in huge trusses of 17 flowers. The evergreen foliage is a deep and glossy green that will remain green throughout the year.

‘Nestucca’

	bloom colors White
	height 3 feet in 10 years
	hardiness zones 5-8

Blooming from deep pink flower buds, the flowers of ‘Nestucca’ are a crisp shade of white. The deep pink from the flower buds will remain on the backside of the petals, and green freckles will appear when the flowers are fully opened in mid spring.

These pretty flowers are grouped together in trusses of 12-15 flowers that are dome-shaped and cover the shrub in the middle of spring. The foliage is evergreen with deep green and glossy leaves.

‘Nestucca’ will spread a bit wider than it is tall, making it a great choice for a low-growing hedge or border to your woodland gardens.

‘Princess Anne’

	bloom colors Yellow
	height 3 foot in 10 years
	hardiness zones 6-8

‘Princess Anne’ is a beautiful dwarf rhododendron variety with very interesting golden-green flowers. These flowers have a deeper green freckle within their petals. They bloom in early to mid spring and are grouped together in trusses of 4-10 flowers.

‘Princess Anne’ is an evergreen shrub. The leaves are dull green but will take on a hint of bronze in the fall and winter months. This variety has a reputation for being a dependable shrub and is cold-hardy. Plant this variety where its unique flowers will not be missed!

‘Purple Gem’

	bloom colors Purple
	height 3 feet in 10 years
	hardiness zones 5-8

Growing to 2-3 feet tall, ‘Purple Gem’ is one of the most versatile dwarf rhododendron varieties. The flowers are a bright violet purple that appear anytime from early to mid-spring. These pretty flowers are grouped together in small ball-shaped trusses and appear in early to mid spring.

The small leaves on this variety are evergreen and are a deep shade of green. When the temperatures cool off in the fall, the leaves will turn a shade of bronze. Use this rhododendron in a garden or as a low-growing perennial border plant.

‘Towhead’

	plant type Yellow
	height 1 foot in 10 years
	hardiness zones 5-8

As the name would imply, this dwarf rhododendron variety is covered in pale yellow flowers. These flowers blossom in the early to mid-springtime in loose trusses of 8 flowers. Once these flowers have fully bloomed in spring, you may notice some orange or brown freckles on the upper petals.

The leaves on this rhododendron are glossy and deep green. In the winter, these leaves will turn a shade of bronze. Plant ‘Towhead’ together in clusters along a walkway to enjoy the year-long show this rhododendron provides.

‘Waltham’

	bloom colors Pink
	height 1 foot in10 years
	hardiness zones 5-8

‘Waltham’ is a member of the PJM rhododendron group. This group of rhododendrons are particularly good performers in the New England states. Waltham is a smaller member of this group, topping out between 1 and 3 feet, while other PJM rhododendrons will grow to 6 feet and above.

These flowers are a pretty shade of pink and will be clustered together loosely in groups of 8 flowers. Waltham’s flowers arrive in mid spring, and are very long-lasting and can withstand some rain, while other rhododendron flowers cannot. The foliage is evergreen and a deep shade of green year-round.

‘Yaku Sunrise’

	bloom colors Pink
	height 2 feet in 10 years
	hardiness zones 5-8

Blooming from bright pink flower buds will emerge the prettiest light pink flowers. The bright pink will remain on the backs and the edges of the petals, giving the flowers a two-tone look. These pretty pink flowers are clustered in trusses of up to 10 large flowers.

The foliage is evergreen and made up of 3-inch-long deep green leaves. Plant ‘Yaku sunrise’ as a beautiful accent shrub in a small garden, in a container, or in a mass near a walkway or windows.