As the state flower of Washington, rhododendrons hold a special place in our heart here at Vander Giessen’s. With their love of our mild, wet winters, evergreen foliage, and showstopping blooms in spring, rhododendrons are a must-have for any Pacific Northwest garden. And while many gardeners have unpleasant memories of overgrown, ugly rhododendrons in their yards as kids, many of today’s varieties–and the vast majority of the selections we carry–are more compact and have stunning flower colors not seen in the varieties of generations past.

Rhododendrons love partial shade, but most of the varieties we sell will grow well in full shade to full sun, especially with adequate watering. To keep your rhododendrons lush and healthy and to promote abundant blooms, we recommend feeding twice a year with Espoma Azalea-Tone–feed in early spring before blooming and again in late spring or early summer after the flowers are finished.

Browse our 2025 rhododendron list below, and stop in to pick out the varieties best suited for your garden. Please note: this list is not necessarily representative of stock currently on hand.

Rhododendrons are generally very easy to grow, with few insect or disease issues over their lifetime. If, however, you have problems with black vine weevils, rhody leaves can quickly take on a chewed, unsightly appearance.

Weevils are nocturnal, soil-dwelling insects that resemble a beetle. Typically unseen in daylight, weevils crawl up the plants under cover of darkness, eating portions of leaves, leaving u-shaped cutouts around the edges. Although the damage is typically only cosmetic, it can ruin the aesthetic of this typically beautiful evergreen.

To prevent weevil damage, we recommend and sell two great options: Bonide Annual Tree & Shrub insect control and beneficial nematodes. Both products work in the soil–no spraying required–for long-term effectiveness. Annual Tree & Shrub works systemically, meaning the insecticide is taken up by the roots and will kill any insects that try to eat the leaves for up to 12 months following application. As an organic option, beneficial nematodes are soil-dwelling predators–essentially bugs hunting bugs–and will hunt and destroy the eggs and larvae of “bad bugs” like weevils.

Both products are in stock year-round at the nursery. If you’re battling weevils in your garden, stop in and let us help you pick out the best option to keep your plants healthy and undamaged!