Rhododendron viscosum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- rho-doh-DEN-dron vis-KOH-sum
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Woody, evergreen or deciduous shrubs that forms a thicket with age; loose open habit. Toleartes wet planting sites.
Wildlife: Members of the genus Rhododendron support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Andrena) cornelli. Tolerates damage by rabbits.
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:
-
- 'Lemon Drop'
- 'Pink Mist'
- 'Pink Rocket'
- 'Viscosum'
- 'Lemon Drop'
- 'Lemon Drop' , 'Pink Mist', 'Pink Rocket' , 'Viscosum'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Lemon Drop'
- 'Pink Mist'
- 'Pink Rocket'
- 'Viscosum'
- 'Lemon Drop'
- 'Lemon Drop' , 'Pink Mist', 'Pink Rocket' , 'Viscosum'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rhododendron
- Species:
- viscosum
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Rhododendron support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Andrena) cornelli. Tolerates damage by rabbits.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Open
- Spreading
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Elongated capsule. Displays from July to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Description:
- Very fragrant, sticky white flowers bloom from May to July in a terminal cluster, tubular, 5-parted.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, lustrous green leaves; smooth- or toothed-margined
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Houseplants
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
- 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, difficult breathing, progressive paralysis of arms and legs, coma.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Andromedotoxin
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems
