Rhododendrons With Small White Flowers

Rhododendron Species

• Species rhododendrons are varieties that are found in the wild. They are usually a bit less showy than their cultivated cousins, but are still quite beautiful. Rhododendron hongkongense originates in Hong Kong and bears small white flowers that are pink in bud. It is not frost hardy, and only grows well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Rhododendron lepidotum, hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10, comes in an assortment of colors, including white. The small flowers may have a pale pink flush when young. Rhododendron sargentianum produces soft white to cream flowers with a tubular base. This species is a little hardier than the others, and grows well in USDA zones 4 through 8.

Rhododendron Cultivars

• Cultivated varieties can be selections made from a species or they can be hybrids. They are propagated by cuttings to promote consistency in the offspring. "Balta" (Rhododendron "Balta") bears small white flowers with a slight pale pink blush and slight green freckling in the throat. Dora Amateis" (Rhododendron "Dora Amateis") has similar flowers but the edges are more ruffled. Both are hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8. "Egret" (Rhododendron "Egret"), hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9, bears unusual, nodding, bell-shaped flowers similar to those found in species rather than cultivars. "Maricee" is a little hardier than the others, showing hardiness in USDA zones 4 through 8.

Evergreen Azaleas

• Evergreen azaleas are a subgenera, or subdivision, of rhododendrons. They often have smaller leaves and flowers. They may be sold as either azaleas or rhododendrons. A few varieties bearing small white flowers are "Hardy Gardenia" (Rhododendron "Hardy Gardenia"), "Alaska" (Rhododendron "Alaska") and "Panda" (Rhododendron "Panda"). "Hardy Gardenia," hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9, sports gorgeous double flowers reminiscent of gardenia flowers. Both "Alaska" and "Panda" have single white flowers with green speckling, but "Panda" is hardier, growing well in USDA zones 5 through 10, while "Alaska" is only hardy in USDA zone 9 through 11.

Deciduous Azaleas

• Both deciduous species azaleas and cultivars bear small white flowers. Deciduous azaleas will lose their leaves during dormancy. Rhododendron albiflorum, Rhododendron arborescens and Rhododendron oblingiflorum are three deciduous species among the many that bear white flowers. Rhododendron albiflorum, hardy in USDA zones 7 through 11, produces small bell-shaped flowers with a citrus scent, while Rhododendron arborescens, hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, has fragrant white flowers with a tubular base. Rhododendron oblongifolia is a U.S. native and bears a long tubular flower that flares out toward the tip. It's hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9. Cultivars such as "Petite Fleur" and "White Perfume" also bear small white flowers. "Petite Fleur" is pink an bud then changes to pure white, while "White Perfume" bears scented white flowers. Both are hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9.