Fantastica Rhododendron

Rhododendron ‘Fantastica’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-8b (Hot-summer climates); 6a-9b (Cool-summer climates) Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Height at Maturity: 5-6′

Width at Maturity: 5-6′

Spacing: 4-4.5′ for solid hedges; 10′ for space between plants

Flower Color: Brilliant Rose-Pink with White throats and Citron-Green freckles

Flower Size: 2″ in 4 to 5 in diameter clusters

Flowering Period: Mid Spring

Flower Type: Single, in large rounded clusters

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Full Sun to Part Shade in cool-summer climates, Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade or All Day Filtered Sun in hot-summer climates

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.0 (Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Butterflies, Visual Attention

Resistances: Heat, Humidity, Insect, Full Sun in cool climates

Description

Discovered at Hachman’s Nursery in Germany, ‘Fantastica’ Rhododendron certainly lives up to its name. A prolific mid-spring bloomer that dazzles with abundant clusters of bicolor brilliant deep rose-pink flowers with white centers. Each picotee flower is accented with citron-green freckles. It has long, elliptic dark green leaves with a white-wooly indumentum beneath. At 5 to 6 feet tall and equally as wide when all grown up, Fantastica is a two-tone beauty that adds fantastic drama to the garden and is destined to be a conversation piece. In cool-summer climates it can be grown in full sun but will appreciate some filtered sun or shade during the afternoon hours in hot-summer climates.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 5 to 6 feet tall and equally as wide at maturity, Fantastica Rhododendron is ideal for use as a specimen in smaller spaces or in groupings or as a colorful natural hedge in sunny to partially shaded landscape and woodland borders. A fine accent home foundation plantings. Does especially well on fertile embankments, hillsides and slopes. A fine addition to pink theme gardens, rhododendron and azalea gardens, Asian or Zen gardens, and woodland gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 4 to 4.5 feet apart for solid hedges; 10 feet or more apart for space between plants

Growing Preferences

When it comes to success growing Rhododendrons, a little good advice goes a long way. When planted right and in the right spot, Rhododendrons are very easy to grow and care for.

Rhododendrons thrive in a moist but well-drained acidic soil that is rich in organic matter and part shade; preferable morning sun with afternoon shade or filtered sun. Fantastica will tolerate full sun in cool-summer climates but we think all rhododendrons look best in a partially shaded natural environment. Keep in mind that whether growing in the ground or in containers, constantly soggy or wet soil is problematic for Rhododendrons, and most other plants for that matter. Some soils, such as heavy clay, quick-draining sand, or otherwise poor soils, might need to be amended to provide sufficient nutrients, better soil drainage, and/or moisture retention. In containers, select a pot with a drainage hole(s) and use a 50/50 blend of professional potting mix and potting soil. Avoid using any native soil in pots. Feed Rhododendrons after they bloom with an acid-loving formula such as an Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Food.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Rhododendrons.

How To Plant A Rhododendron

How To Fertilize & Water A Rhododendron

How To Prune A Rhododendron

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