Gold Prinz Rhododendron

Everyone loves rhododendrons, whose wonderful flowers come in every possible shade of red, pink and purple. Much rarer though are yellow flowers, which come from just a few wild species. Yellow rhododendrons are very desirable for their beauty, but many are not very good garden plants. One, though, stands out, and that is the Gold Prinz Rhododendron, a wonderful small evergreen bush just 2 feet tall, that radiates pure sunshine in spring. Its compact size makes it perfect for smaller gardens and for growing in pots, and in May it buries itself in a golden treasure of blooms, creating an incredible sight. ‘Spectacular’ is the only adjective good enough to describe this bush, which experts all agree is the very best yellow rhododendron in existence. Grow it with purple and blue flowers, or among oranges and peaches, for a wonderful and colorful spring display.

Growing the Gold Prinz Rhododendron

Size and Appearance

The Gold Prinz Rhododendron is a mounding evergreen shrub, growing 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide within 10 years, and reaching 3 or 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide in time. It has a dense structure, and always looks neat and attractive. Its evergreen leaves are rounded, about 2 inches long, and 1½ inches wide. They are smooth and glossy, and a rich dark green, quite different from many other rhododendrons, giving this plant a distinctive and attractive look, even when not in bloom.

By late fall you will see the large flower buds at the ends of every stem, and in spring these begin to swell and open, bursting into bloom in May. Every bud contains 15 or more individual flowers, and they form a dense, rounded head of blossoms that almost touch each other across the bush, hiding the foliage. Each bloom is bell shaped with a flaring mouth, with frilly undulating edges, and a full 2½ inches across. The buds are orange-yellow, opening to a clear cool, acid yellow, decorated inside with spots and dots of a strong dark red. The abundance of large flowers creates a look that is truly spectacular.

Using the Gold Prinz Rhododendron in Your Garden

With its smaller size, there is no doubt that every smaller garden should have this plant in it. Grow it in the foreground of your beds, or alongside a path, to admire as you pass. Make it a focal point in a partially-shaded rock garden, or plant it among woodland plants. Grow it in planters and containers, where its attractive glossy leaves will be perfect when it is not blooming. Use it in Asian or Japanese styled gardens or courtyards too, where its cool coloring will perfectly retain that calm feeling.

Hardiness

The Gold Prinz Rhododendron is hardy in all warm and hot parts of the country, from zone 6 to zone 8, or zone 9 in the northwest.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun or partial shade is perfect for the Gold Prinz Rhododendron, which enjoys afternoon shade in hotter areas. It will also grow well in full shade that is bright, such as on the north side of a building, in the shadow of trees, and in the light, dappled shade beneath tall deciduous trees. The soil should be enriched with organic material, and moist but well-drained. This plant is not drought tolerant, and it needs a steady supply of water, but it does not like wet and heavy soils, so add plenty of organic material and plant in a raised bed if you have clay soil. The soil should also be acidic, which is normal down much of the east, with a pH of 6.5 or less. If you have alkaline soil, don’t worry, because this shrub is perfect for containers. With its small size and fibrous root system it will thrive for years in soil that has been blended for acid-loving plants.

Maintenance and Pruning

You can leave the Gold Prinz Rhododendron to take care of itself, and it needs very little attention if it is watered regularly. We recommend removing the spend blossom heads when the blooms fall, to encourage plenty of buds for the next year. Do this by snapping off the stem just above the first leaf. This plant is normally free of pests and diseases.

History and Origin of the Gold Prinz Rhododendron

The Gold Prinz Rhododendron has a complex breeding history. Hans Hachmann, who has a nursery in the town of Barmstedt, north of Hamburg, Germany, is widely considered one of the most important rhododendron breeders of the 20th century. To create the plant officially called ‘Goldschatz’, he crossed together the varieties ‘Festivo’ and ‘Alice Street’, in 1979. Both of the parent plants are hybrids that contain genes from the wild plant Rhododendron wardii, which grows in central China. It is a species that has yellow to white blooms, a color rarely found among rhododendrons. ‘Goldschatz’ means a golden treasure, but because some people find that word difficult, this plant has been nicknamed the Gold Prinz Rhododendron, meaning gold prince. It is also wrongly sometimes listed as belonging to the Japanese species Rhododendron yakushimanum, a parent of the popular Vulcan Rhododendron which you can find listed among our plants.

Buying the Gold Prinz Rhododendron at The Tree Center

A golden rhododendron is a real show-stopper, and this one is the best there is. If you love something different that is also beautiful, you simply must plant the Gold Prinz Rhododendron in your garden. This popular variety is always hard to find, like golden treasure itself, and the demand for it is huge. Don’t hesitate to order it right away, as our stock will run out very quickly.