By late spring vivid scarlet blossoms literally blanket the branches of this large Rhododendron, contrasting beautifully with its glossy dark-green foliage. The large red flowers appear together in lovely symmetrical bunches that are highly fragrant to butterflies and hummingbirds, attracting these creatures from miles around. It's exactly this floral display of bright color that Nova Zembla is so prized for, especially in colder climates where many Rhododendron cultivars can't make it through harsher winters. This evergreen shrub is actually regarded as the most popular choice of red Rhododendron. Nova Zembla is considered a late-season Rhododendron, showing off its fiery color during the transition of May to June. This quality is extremely beneficial for avoiding late harmful frosts, as well as to keep vibrant color flowing in a landscape after other spring flowers have faded. Nova Zembla grows quite large for a Rhododendron, reaching up to 8 ft. in height as well as 6 ft. to 8 ft. in total width. Lives best in USDA Cold Hardiness Zones 5 through 8, meaning that this shrub is cold hardy down to minus 20°F. Nova Zembla is a gorgeous and hardy Rhododendron that produces an abundance of radiant scarlet blossoms covering the branches from top to bottom.