Rhododendron ‘PJM Elite Star’
Overview
Uses: Foundation plantings, mixed borders, woodland edges, and cold-climate gardens.
Benefits: A denser, more compact selection of PJM Elite with deep lavender-purple flowers in early spring. The small, glossy leaves turn plum-purple in fall and hold that color through winter. One of the hardiest rhododendrons you can grow.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–8
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Broadleaf Evergreen Shrub
Growth Habit: Rounded, Upright — compact and densely branched.
Bloom Color: Lavender-Purple
Foliage Color: Dark Green, turning Plum-Purple in fall and winter
Mature Height: 4–5 feet
Mature Width: 4–5 feet
Bloom Season: Spring
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
The classic cold-country rhododendron, tightened up for smaller beds.
PJM rhododendrons have been the go-to flowering evergreen for cold-winter gardens for decades, and PJM Elite is one of the best known of the group. PJM Elite Star is a denser, more compact selection of it. It forms a rounded, well-branched shrub about four to five feet tall and wide, with more branch tips for flowers and fewer open gaps than its parent.
In early spring, clusters of deep lavender-purple flowers open at the ends of the branches, often so thickly that the foliage nearly disappears. It is one of the first evergreen shrubs in the yard to put on a real show, well ahead of the big-leaf rhododendrons.
The leaves are small, glossy and leathery. They stay dark green through the growing season, then shift to plum-purple in fall and keep that color through winter, so the plant reads as a warm accent against snow rather than a dull green block.
Small-leaved rhododendrons like this one take cold wind and winter sun far better than the large-leaf types, and they accept more sun in summer too. That makes PJM Elite Star a practical choice for open foundation beds and northern gardens where other rhododendrons look tattered by March.
Care
PJM Elite Star Rhododendron Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. In colder zones it flowers best with several hours of direct sun; toward the warm end of its range, shade from hot afternoon sun keeps the foliage looking its best.
Like all rhododendrons, it needs acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. The roots are fine and shallow and will rot in soggy ground, so avoid low spots where water stands, and amend heavy clay generously or plant in a slightly raised bed. Set the plant so the top of the root ball sits level with or just above the surrounding soil, never deeper.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season, and during dry spells after that. A two-to-three-inch layer of shredded bark or pine needle mulch keeps the roots cool and evenly moist; keep it a few inches back from the stems, and avoid digging or cultivating over the root zone.
Feed lightly in early spring with a slow release fertilizer. Rhododendrons need far less feeding than most shrubs, and too much does more harm than good.
Pruning is rarely needed. If you want to shape the plant, do it right after flowering, since next year's flower buds form over the summer. Snapping off the spent flower clusters is optional, but it tidies the plant and lets it put that energy into new growth.
Size
What Size is the PJM Elite Star Rhododendron for Sale Online?
Our PJM Elite Star Rhododendron ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. As an evergreen it ships with its leaves on, and in the cooler months those leaves may already show their purple winter color. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does PJM Elite Star Rhododendron Grow?
Expect about 4 to 5 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide at maturity, in a dense, rounded shape. Growth is moderate, so it takes several years to reach full size. Space plants about 4 feet apart for a continuous informal hedge or grouping.
Additional Information
What does PJM stand for?
PJM honors Peter J. Mezitt of Weston Nurseries in Massachusetts, where the original PJM hybrids were raised in the 1940s by crossing Carolina rhododendron with Rhododendron dauricum, a small-leaved species from northeast Asia. The aim was a rhododendron that could take New England winters, and the PJM group has been a cold-climate staple ever since.
How is PJM Elite Star different from PJM Elite?
PJM Elite Star was selected from PJM Elite. It keeps the same early lavender flowers and purple winter foliage but grows denser and more compact, topping out around four to five feet instead of five to six. If you want a larger plant for a hedge or screen, PJM Elite fills more space; for a foundation bed or a smaller garden, Elite Star is the tidier fit.
Do deer eat rhododendrons?
Often, yes. Deer browse rhododendron leaves and flower buds, especially in winter when other food is scarce, so where deer pressure is heavy, plan on fencing or a repellent program. If deer visit your yard every night, our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens are a safer choice.
Why do the leaves curl and turn purple in winter?
Both are normal. On very cold days rhododendron leaves roll inward and droop to limit moisture loss, then flatten again as temperatures rise. The plum-purple color is this plant's natural winter coloring, not a sign of stress, and the leaves green up again in spring. For more plants that hold their leaves through winter, browse our Evergreen Plants.
