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Rhododendron 'Conversation Piece'
Conversation Piece Azalea
Overview
Rhododendron 'Conversation Piece' is a low-growing evergreen azalea in the Robin Hill series reaching 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) tall and 3-4 feet (90-120 cm) wide on a low spreading framework with horizontal branching. Leaves are elliptic, 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long, dark green throughout the year with a slight bronze tint in cold weather. Single to semi-double flowers measure 2.5-3 inches (6-7.5 cm) across with 5-10 petals, opening in highly variable color patterns on the same plant: pure white, pink with darker pink margins, white with pink streaks and blotches, and pink with white centers — all forms commonly appearing on a single shrub. Carried in clusters of 2-4 from late April through May, with a single flush rather than rebloom. Stems are wiry and twiggy with no prickles. Plants tolerate light to moderate shade but bloom most heavily with 4-6 hours of morning sun and afternoon shade in zones 7-9. Lifespan in landscape settings runs 20-30 years on a properly drained acid soil; root rot from Phytophthora can develop in heavy wet clay and is the leading cause of plant loss. Cold injury occurs to flower buds below -5°F (-21°C), reducing the spring flush by 60-90% in extreme winter zones.
Native Range
Rhododendron 'Conversation Piece' is a hybrid cultivar in the Robin Hill series developed by Robert Gartrell in New Jersey, USA, between the 1940s and 1970s as crosses combining North American native and Japanese satsuki azalea genetics. It has no native range; the parentage produced satsuki-style late spring bloom with improved cold tolerance for USDA zones 6b-9.Suggested Uses
Planted in foundation beds, woodland edges, and mixed shrub borders at 36-48 inch (90-120 cm) spacing in dappled shade or with afternoon shade. Used as a low specimen in Asian-style gardens where the variable flower colors complement satsuki bonsai plantings. Container plantings require pots of at least 7 gallons (26 L) with acid potting mix and daily summer watering; container specimens are shorter-lived than in-ground plants by 5-8 years.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 3'
Width/Spread3' - 4'
Reaches mature size in approximately 7 years
Bloom Information
Bloom flush from late April through late May in zones 7-9, depending on spring temperatures. Peak display lasts 3-4 weeks; individual flowers last 5-7 days before petal drop. Flowers do not rebloom; the single annual flush is the only flowering period. Bloom timing shifts 2-3 weeks earlier in zones 8-9 and 1-2 weeks later in zone 6b compared to zone 7.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
variable on same plant: white, pink-margined, white with pink streaks, pink with white centersFoliage Description
dark green with bronze winter tintingGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Water deeply twice weekly during establishment for the first growing season, applying about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) at the root zone per session. Mature plants tolerate weekly deep watering in zones 7-8 but require twice-weekly watering in zone 9. Acid soil (pH 4.5-6.0) is essential; alkaline conditions cause iron chlorosis with yellowing between leaf veins. Lace bugs feed on leaf undersides in summer in eastern North America, causing stippled bronzing of foliage. Phytophthora root rot develops in heavy wet clay; raised planting in amended soil reduces incidence. Fertilize once in early spring with an acid-forming formula at the rate listed on the label.Pruning
Light pruning is done immediately after the spring bloom flush in May or early June, removing dead wood and shortening overlong shoots by 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) to maintain a low rounded shape. Pruning after July removes developing flower buds and reduces the next spring's bloom. Renewal pruning every 8-10 years removes the oldest 20% of stems at ground level. Heavy pruning that removes more than one-third of the canopy reduces bloom for 1-2 seasons.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late spring
Maintenance Level
lowContainer Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 7 gallons