Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Yakushima Rhododendron 'Yaku Princess' bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Yak Rhododendron (Rhododendron yakushimanum 'Yaku Princess').

More about yakushima rhododendron 'yaku princess'

About Yakushima Rhododendron 'Yaku Princess'

Rhododendron yakushimanum 'Yaku Princess' · also called Yak Rhododendron · flowering

'Yaku Princess' is a compact yakushimanum-type rhododendron with apple-blossom buds opening to pale-pink flowers that fade to white, packed in rounded trusses in late spring. Its dense, dome-shaped habit and handsome leaves, dark green above with a felted tan indumentum beneath, make it tidy and sun-tolerant. It needs acidic, humus-rich, sharply drained soil and steady moisture.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Failure to flower: Too much shade, dry roots at bud set, or feeding too late in the season can reduce bloom. Give morning sun, keep moist through summer, and feed only in spring after flowering.

The reasons yakushima rhododendron 'yaku princess' isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming yakushima rhododendron 'yaku princess' traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding yakushima rhododendron 'yaku princess' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get yakushima rhododendron 'yaku princess' to flower

Maximise sun. Give yakushima rhododendron 'yaku princess' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for yakushima rhododendron 'yaku princess' and get the feeding right with the yakushima rhododendron 'yaku princess' fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Yakushima Rhododendron 'Yaku Princess' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full yakushima rhododendron 'yaku princess' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Yakushima Rhododendron 'Yaku Princess' blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my yakushima rhododendron 'yaku princess' flower?

Yakushima Rhododendron 'Yaku Princess' blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make yakushima rhododendron 'yaku princess' bloom?

Give yakushima rhododendron 'yaku princess' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does yakushima rhododendron 'yaku princess' normally bloom?