Rhododendron 'Odee Wright'

Odee wright rhododendron

Hybrid of garden origin; bred in the Pacific Northwest; the bicolored yellow face with apricot petal reverse separates this cultivar from the plain-yellow cultivars ('Capistrano', 'Lemon Dream') that carry a single color across the full petal surface

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds Container Friendly

SunPart Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 6–8

Overview

Rhododendron 'Odee Wright' is an evergreen shrub reaching 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m) tall with a spread of 4-5 feet (1.2-1.5 m) and a compact, dense, mounding habit wider than tall. An elepidote rhododendron, the cultivar carries dome-shaped trusses of 10-14 funnel-shaped flowers 2-2.5 inches (5-6 cm) wide in bright yellow with a reddish-orange to apricot blush on the petal reverse (the outer surface of each petal). The two-tone effect shows clearly in bud and as the trusses open, then reads as solid yellow once the flowers reach full spread. Bloom duration is 3-4 weeks in May-June. Elliptic leaves 3-5 inches (8-13 cm) long are glossy dark green. Growth rate is slow to moderate. Hardy to USDA zone 6. Toxic to pets and humans if ingested. The compact 3-4 foot (0.9-1.2 m) size fits foundation plantings and mixed borders where the larger yellow cultivars ('Horizon Monarch' at 5-7 feet / 1.5-2.1 m) overwhelm the planting scale, while the apricot-reversed bicolored flower form gives a second visual feature during the bud-to-bloom transition that plain-yellow cultivars such as 'Capistrano' and 'Lemon Dream' cannot match.

Native Range

Rhododendron 'Odee Wright' is a hybrid of garden origin, bred in the Pacific Northwest and propagated vegetatively.

Suggested Uses

Used in mixed borders, foundation plantings, and container plantings in zones 6-8 at 4-5 foot (1.2-1.5 m) spacing. The compact 3-4 foot (0.9-1.2 m) size fits scales where 'Horizon Monarch' at 5-7 feet (1.5-2.1 m) overwhelms the planting, while the apricot-reversed bicolored flowers give a color feature that plain-yellow cultivars such as 'Capistrano' and 'Lemon Dream' cannot match. Containers of 5 gallons (19 L) minimum suit the compact habit, and the slow-to-moderate growth rate keeps the same pot appropriate for several years. Also not suited to alkaline soils, full sun in hot climates (yellow bleaches), or dry conditions. Toxic to pets and humans if ingested.

How to Identify

Identified by bright yellow funnel-shaped flowers 2-2.5 inches (5-6 cm) wide carrying a reddish-orange to apricot blush on the petal reverse, combined with dome-shaped trusses of 10-14 flowers and a compact 3-4 foot (0.9-1.2 m) mounding habit wider than tall. Compared with 'Nancy Evans', inner-face flower color is brighter yellow rather than orange-gold, and the secondary color feature is an apricot petal reverse rather than a bronze-orange bud. Compared with 'Capistrano', the petal reverse carries an apricot blush rather than the solid primrose-yellow of the whole petal, and the cultivar is workable in USDA zone 6 rather than extending to zone 5. Compared with 'Lemon Dream', the inner-face yellow is brighter rather than paler lemon, and the apricot reverse adds the bicolor effect that 'Lemon Dream' does not carry.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 4'

Width/Spread4' - 5'

Reaches mature size in approximately 8 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring Summer

Dome-shaped trusses of 10-14 funnel-shaped bright yellow flowers 2-2.5 inches (5-6 cm) wide carrying a reddish-orange to apricot blush on the petal reverse, May-June. Bloom duration is 3-4 weeks. The two-tone effect reads most clearly in bud and as the trusses open before the flowers reach full spread.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Bright yellow on the inner face with a reddish-orange to apricot blush on the petal reverse (outer surface) that shows in bud and as the trusses open; funnel-shaped flowers 2-2.5 inches (5-6 cm) wide carried in dome-shaped trusses of 10-14; May-June

Foliage Description

Glossy dark green leathery leaves; elliptic 3-5 inches (8-13 cm) long; year-round evergreen

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade

Requires 3-6 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.0(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

loam peat sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in partial shade in moist, well-drained, acidic soil at pH 4.5-6.0. Hardy to USDA zone 6. Hot afternoon sun bleaches the yellow flowers toward cream, so siting under partial shade with morning sun preserves the yellow color depth. The compact wider-than-tall mounding habit develops naturally and needs no shaping. Mulch the root zone 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) deep with pine bark, pine needles, or oak leaves to hold moisture and protect the shallow root system. Toxic to pets and humans if ingested.

Pruning

Deadhead spent trusses after bloom by snapping them off above the growth buds. The compact wider-than-tall form develops naturally and needs no structural pruning. Avoid late-summer cuts, which remove next year's flower buds.

Pruning Schedule

summer