Is is true you can't grow rhododendrons near oaks?

I have five rhodendrons near two California live oaks. They are outside the dripline, but close. They are doing terribly in a spot with good soil and lots of shade. A friend told me you just can't grow rhodendrons near oaks. Is that true? What about camellias?

Is is true you can't grow rhododendrons near oaks?
They will grow happily together.





The thing being hinted at is probably that Rhodys are also a carrier os Sudden Oak Death, a soil organisn. Over the last few years Rhodies (spell it however!) have been quarentined in some areas, as have oaks because of the soil organisn causing so much Death of Oak trees, rather Suddenly.





If the rhodies are outside the dripline they may be getting more sun than they like. And check the soil for pH and such. Rhodies like heavy clay, not what Coastal Live oaks usually live in. Interior Live Oaks do and don't depending. And there are other species of "live" oak in Cali and other states.





It could be that fungus (SOD). Check on the Sudden Oak Death website. ??
Reply:Friends try to help, but in this case your friend is incorrect. Oak trees acidify the soil around them and rhodos like acidic soil. They do well together. I have seen many a successful pairing of these two plants. Check the nutient levels in their soil and water received. What is soil made of ? They prefer forrest-floor type of soil. Example = leaf waste, chuncks of fallen/rotting (wood chips) tree.


It is possible that your friend was thinking of lilacs. If lilacs are planted in the vicinity of oaks ( or other acid producers ) they will grow sparsely and they will not bloom.
Reply:I have been in the landscape industry for over 25 yrs and have seen plenty of awesome rodys growing as under plantings in a stands of oaks without any problems. I question your friends advice. more than likely it is planted wrong. Usually to deep.