Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - June 17, 2015

From: Baltimore, MD
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Pruning, Shrubs
Title: Cutting back a Rhododendron in Maryland
Answered by: Anne Van Nest

QUESTION:

I have a planting of six shrubs across the front of my house (alternating azalea & rhododendron). All have died except for one huge rhody & a small azalea next to it. Can I cut the huge rhody back to maintain some scale to new replacement shrubs or would it be best to let it go, too, since some ailment has taken the others? Can you recommend some native shrubs for the new planting? Many thanks.

ANSWER:

You should probably leave the large rhododendron at full size since it is growing well. You can prune rhododendrons and the best time is in the spring. The next best time is after they bloom. The American Rhododendron Society has a factsheet online for pruning rhododendrons that you might like to read.

To find a list of native shrubs that would be good companion plants for your rhododendron, go to the Native Plant Database  and search for Maryland, shrub, perennial. Then select your sunlight levels and soil moisture to get a large pool of plants to make your next choices. Consider heights, texture and blooming times so there is some variety in your planting.

 

From the Image Gallery


Eastern sweetshrub
Calycanthus floridus

American beautyberry
Callicarpa americana

Coastal pepperbush
Clethra alnifolia

Northern bush honeysuckle
Diervilla lonicera

Swamp sweetbells
Eubotrys racemosus

Sheep laurel
Kalmia angustifolia

More Pruning Questions

Evergreen privacy screen 8 feet or less
January 29, 2016 - In needing to plant an evergreen privacy screen, what is the tallest Ceniza variety? I'm having great difficulty finding an evergreen hedge material 8' or less. After having taken a class in pla...
view the full question and answer

Trimming non-native sago from Fresno CA
September 10, 2012 - I have a sago plant, fronds are hanging over into street, can the fronds themselves be trimmed back without removing the whole frond?
view the full question and answer

Spanish Dagger plant interfering with walkway in Ingram TX
April 09, 2010 - I have a Spanish Dagger that is now 8 feet tall and about to fall over in a walkway. Due to the danger of these very sharp tips I need to either cut down the plant or try to root in and replant. If ...
view the full question and answer

Removing Center Stem From Desert Spoon (Sotol) in Phoenix
March 11, 2016 - I have a desert spoon. I hate the center stem. Can I remove the center stem without hurting the rest of the plant? And what is the best way to remove it? I looked for this answer in your questions bu...
view the full question and answer

Cutting Juncus effusus back from Bellevue WA
November 18, 2010 - I read your posts about Juncus effusus and just have one follow-up question. When is the best time to cut them back to the ground - before winter or early spring? I live in the Pacific NW. I recent...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.