Rhododendron catawbiense

Common Name(s):

Catawba rhododendron, Mountain rosebay, Purple rhododendron

Categories:

Native Plants, Poisonous Plants, Shrubs

Comment:

Large leathery dark green leaves; spread of 8 to 10'; often becomes leggy when grown in unfavorable conditions; native to Appalachian mountains. This plant is frequently damaged by deer.

Description:

Woody, evergreen or deciduous shrubs; leaves alternate, simple, smooth- or toothed-margined; flowers in a terminal cluster, tubular, 5-parted, white to deep pink or yellow; fruit an elongated capsule.

Height:

6-10 ft.

Foliage:

Large, leathery, alternate, glossy dark green leaves; 3 to 6 in. long; may develop yellow-green winter color

Flower:

5 to 6 in. umbel of lilac-purple to pale lavender-pink flowers in mid-spring; green or yellow-brown markings in throat

Zones:

4 to 8

Habit:

Evergreen

Site:

Morning sun to high bright shade; moist, well-drained soil; grows best in mountain conditions, cooler temperatures

Texture:

Medium to coarse

Form:

Dense, wide spreading shrub

Exposure:

Sun to high bright shade; moist, well drained soil

Fruit:

5 to 6 in. trusses of lilac purple to pale lavender pink flowers

Distribution:

Native to southern Appalachian mountains, from Virginia through Georgia

Poison Part:

All parts.

Poison Delivery Mode:

Ingestion.

Symptoms:

Salivation, watering of eyes and nose, abdominal pain, loss of energy, depression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, difficult breathing, progressive paralysis of arms and legs, coma.

Toxic Principle:

Andromedotoxin.

Severity:

HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!

Found in:

Houseplant or interiorscape; landscape as cultivated woody shrub; forest or natural area.

Width:

8-10 ft.

Tags:

evergreen

NCCES plant id: 534