Rhododendron ‘Olga Mezitt’

Rhododendron ‘Olga Mezitt’: Peach-Pink Blooms, Winter-Red Foliage

A standout for part-shade gardens, Rhododendron ‘Olga Mezitt’ offers bright peach-pink flowers in late spring, followed by an evergreen presence that keeps working long after bloom. As temperatures cool, the foliage takes on light red tones through fall and winter, adding welcome colour when the garden is quiet. With a fast growth rate and an upright, spreading habit, it quickly becomes a confident, leafy anchor for woodland borders and sheltered foundation plantings. It is also a valuable early-season shrub for pollinators once the flowers open.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 210 cm
• Spread: 120 cm
• Flower Colour: Bright peach-pink
• Flowering Period: Late spring
• Foliage: Evergreen; turns light red in fall and winter
• Sunlight Requirements: Part shade
• Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained, humus-rich, acidic soil

Uses and Benefits: ‘Olga Mezitt’ shines as a feature shrub in woodland-style plantings, along shaded paths, and in mixed evergreen borders where year-round structure matters. The warm peach-pink flowers bring a soft lift to late-spring shade, while the winter-tinted foliage extends the season of interest well beyond bloom. Its upright, spreading habit makes it useful for gentle screening and for filling vertical space behind lower shade plants without feeling heavy or crowded.

Care Instructions: Plant in part shade in a protected location, then mulch generously to keep the shallow roots cool and evenly moist. Water deeply during dry stretches, especially while establishing, and avoid sites that stay wet or compacted. An acid-forming fertilizer can be applied lightly in spring if growth is weak or leaves look pale. Deadhead after flowering for a tidier finish, and prune only lightly right after bloom so you do not remove next year’s buds.

History: ‘Olga Mezitt’ comes from the Mezitt breeding tradition associated with Weston Nurseries in Massachusetts, where hardy rhododendrons were selected for garden performance and seasonal colour. Named in honour of Anna Olga Mezitt, it is valued for its dependable bloom, vigorous growth, and distinctive winter foliage tones.

Final Thoughts: For gardeners who want more than a brief spring show, ‘Olga Mezitt’ delivers, with peach-pink flowers up top and a subtle winter-red finish that keeps the shrub looking lively through the colder months.