Rhododendron ‘Weston’s Lemon Drop’
Overview
Uses: Woodland gardens, pollinator gardens, mixed borders, and native plantings.
Benefits: A late-blooming deciduous azalea bred from native species. Pale lemon-yellow, sweetly fragrant flowers open from salmon buds in midsummer, long after other azaleas have finished. Foliage resists mildew and turns red in fall.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–8
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Upright, Rounded — open and airy.
Bloom Color: Pale Lemon-Yellow (fragrant)
Foliage Color: Blue-Green, turning Red in fall
Mature Height: 4–6 feet
Mature Width: 4–5 feet
Bloom Season: Midsummer
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Fragrant azalea flowers in the middle of summer.
Most azaleas are finished by early June. Weston’s Lemon Drop waits until midsummer, when salmon-colored buds open into pale lemon-yellow flowers with a sweet scent that carries on warm evenings. It brings azalea bloom to a time of year when the shade garden is mostly green.
It was developed from North American native azalea species, and it has their open, upright structure, reaching about four to six feet tall and four to five feet wide. The airy habit lets light through, so it sits naturally at a woodland edge or the back of a mixed border.
The blue-green leaves stay clean through humid summers, resisting the powdery mildew that often grays out deciduous azaleas, and they turn red in fall. Butterflies and bees visit the flowers, which makes it a good fit for native and pollinator plantings.
Care
Weston’s Lemon Drop Azalea Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. More sun brings heavier bloom, while light afternoon shade helps in hot climates. Unlike many evergreen azaleas, deciduous azaleas take a fair amount of sun when the soil stays moist.
Azaleas need acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Work compost or shredded pine bark into the planting area, and avoid heavy clay that stays wet, since the fine roots rot in soggy ground. Set the plant so the top of the root ball sits slightly above the surrounding soil.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season. Azalea roots are shallow, so a two-to-three-inch layer of pine bark or pine needle mulch helps keep them cool and moist. Established plants still appreciate a soaking during dry spells.
Feed lightly after flowering with a slow release fertilizer made for acid-loving plants. Heavy feeding is not needed and can push soft growth.
Because it blooms in midsummer, prune only right after the flowers fade, and keep it light. Most years it needs nothing beyond removing a dead or crossing branch.
Size
What Size is the Weston’s Lemon Drop Azalea for Sale Online?
Our Weston’s Lemon Drop Azalea ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or near dormant in the off-season, so they may arrive with few or no leaves. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Weston’s Lemon Drop Azalea Grow?
Expect about 4 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide at maturity, in an open, upright, rounded shape. Space plants about 4 to 5 feet apart.
Additional Information
Is Weston’s Lemon Drop Azalea a native plant?
It is a hybrid developed from azalea species native to eastern North America, which is why it is considered a nativar. It keeps the fragrance and late bloom of its native parents in a garden-friendly form. Browse more Native Plants of North America.
Does it keep its leaves in winter?
No. It is a deciduous azalea, so it drops its leaves in fall after they turn red. Deciduous azaleas tend to handle colder winters and more sun than many evergreen types.
When does it bloom?
It blooms in midsummer, usually weeks after most evergreen azaleas have finished. Pairing it with spring-blooming azaleas stretches azalea color across the season. Browse more Azaleas.
What grows well with it?
Ferns, native woodland perennials, summersweet, and blueberries all enjoy the same moist, acidic soil and light shade. See our Shrubs & Bushes for more ideas.
