Rhododendron catawbiense
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- rho-doh-DEN-dron kah-taw-bee-EN-say
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Rhododendron catawbiense, commonly called Catawba rhododendron or mountain rosebay, is a large, rounded to spreading, multi-stemmed, broadleaf evergreen shrub that typically grows to 6-10’ (rarely to 20’) tall. It is native to the eastern U.S. from Maryland to Kentucky south to Alabama and Georgia, with concentrations in alpine woodlands, rocky slopes, and ridges in the Appalachian Mountains from Virginia to Georgia where it often forms dense thickets. Its gray-brown bark develops fine scales with age. This shrub is an important parent of a large number of frost-hardy hybrids. It will often become leggy when grown in unfavorable conditions. This plant blooms in late spring to early summer. Its enlarged floral buds are distinctive and present long before flowering. It is often used as a handsome, leathery, broadleaf evergreen, as a specimen plant, in mass planting, or occasionally in hedhes.
This plant is winter hardy to USDA Zones 4-8 where it is best grown in acidic, humusy, organically rich, evenly moist, moisture-retentive but well-drained soils in part shade. It performs well with some morning sun but needs shady afternoon conditions. It will tolerate close to full shade. Prefers cool summer temperatures. Roots must never be allowed to dry out. Acidify soils prior to planting and thereafter as needed. Plant in locations protected from strong winter winds. Do not site plants within or near the drip line of trees in the walnut family (most rhododendrons are sensitive to toxic juglones produced by roots of walnuts, butternuts, pecans and hickories). Good soil drainage is essential (doesn’t like “wet feet”). Poor drainage inevitably leads to root rot, therefore raised beds/plantings should be considered in areas with heavy clay soils. Shallow, fibrous root systems (do not cultivate around plants) will benefit greatly from a mulch (e.g., wood chips, bark or pine needles) to help retain moisture and stabilize soil temperatures.
HIGHLY TOXIC MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!
Fire Risk: This plant has a high flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Rhododendrons are susceptible to insect and disease problems. Insect problems include aphids, borers, lacebugs, leafhoppers, mealybugs, mites, nematodes, scale, thrips, and whitefly. Diseases include canker, crown rot, root rot, leaf spot, rust, and powdery mildew. Full sun can scorch the leaves and the roots rot if the soil does not drain well. A healthy plant in the right place with proper maintenance should have few problems. This plant is frequently damaged by deer.
Quick ID Hints:
- Long, leathery leaves, in tiers, congested at branch tips
- Large,5-lobed bell-shaped flowers with maculations
- Terminal clusters of flowers in raceme
- Evergreen shrub, tiered, sympodial growth
- Juvenile twigs yellowish
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Boursault'
- 'Purpureum Elegans'
- 'Boursault'
- 'Boursault', 'Purpureum Elegans'
- Tags:








- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Boursault'
- 'Purpureum Elegans'
- 'Boursault'
- 'Boursault', 'Purpureum Elegans'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rhododendron
- Species:
- catawbiense
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Appalachian mountains
- Distribution:
- Southern Appalachian mountains, from Virginia through Georgia
- Fire Risk Rating:
- high flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- It provides winter cover. Nectar from flowers attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Members of the genus Rhododendron support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Andrena) cornelli.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
-
-
Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Elongated dry seed capsules (each to 1/2 to 1” long) which mature in fall and have 5 valves. Displays from July to October.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Description:
- Funnelform-campanulate lavender-pink flowers that have green to yellow-brown throat markings. The flowers bloom mid to late spring in compact showy terminal clusters (racemes), each containing 15-20 flowers. Upper corolla lobes are near throat with faint green or yellow-brown maculation. Calyx has 5 lobes. Flowers bloom from April to June.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Large, leathery, simple, alternate, coriaceous, broadly elliptic to oblong, obtuse and mucronulate, rotund, entire, glossy, dark green leaves (to 3-6” long) with smooth or toothed margins. It may develop yellow-green winter color. Undersides of leaves are light green and the leaves are glabrous when they mature.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- Gray-brown bark; develops fine scales with age
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are yellowish green and mature to brown. They are glabrous and have sympodial growth. Buds of flowers are large and acute and have yellowish-green scales.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Houseplants
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Specialized Bees
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Salivation, watering of eyes and nose, abdominal pain, loss of energy, depression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, cardiac failure, difficult breathing, progressive paralysis of arms and legs, coma.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Andromedotoxin, Grayantoxin
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems