Rhododendron viscosum Rhododendron viscosum

Common Name(s):

Clammy Azalea
Swamp Azalea
Swamp Honeysuckle

Phonetic Spelling

rho-doh-DEN-dron vis-KOH-sum

Description

Woody, evergreen or deciduous shrubs that forms a thicket with age; loose open habit. Toleartes wet planting sites.

Seasons of Interest:

Foliage: Fall, crimson Bloom: Spring/Summer, May-July

Wildlife: Members of the genus Rhododendron support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Andrena) cornelli. Tolerates damage by rabbits.

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 scortch the leaves and the roots rot if 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. Early flowering makes it susceptible to spring freezes.

Compare this Plant to: R. arborescens, R. atlanticum, R. vaseyi

Cultivars:

'Lemon Drop'
'Pink Mist'
'Pink Rocket'
'Viscosum'

Tags:

#bees #evergreen #deciduous #pollinators #drought tolerant #wildlife plant #nectar plant #wet sites #specialized bees

Rhododendron viscosum — Flowers close up Fritz Flohr Reynolds CC BY-NC-2.0

Cultivars:

'Lemon Drop'
'Pink Mist'
'Pink Rocket'
'Viscosum'

Tags:

#bees #evergreen #deciduous #pollinators #drought tolerant #wildlife plant #nectar plant #wet sites #specialized bees

Attributes:
Genus:

Rhododendron

Species:

viscosum

Family:

Ericaceae

Life Cycle:

Woody

Dimensions:

Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.

Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.

Whole Plant Traits:
Plant Type:

Native Plant

Poisonous

Shrub

Leaf Characteristics:

Broadleaf Evergreen

Deciduous

Habit/Form:

Open

Spreading

Cultural Conditions:
Light:

Partial Shade (Direct sunlight (2-4 hrs) for only part of the day

Soil Drainage:

Good Drainage

Occasionally Wet

Available Space To Plant:

3 feet-6 feet

Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:

4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Fruit:
Fruit Type:

Capsule

Fruit Description:

Elongated capsule

Flower:
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 in early summer a terminal cluster, tubular, 5-parted.

Leaves:
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; simple, smooth- or toothed-margined

Stem:
Stem Is Aromatic:

No

Landscape:
Landscape Location:

Houseplants

Naturalized Area

Woodland

Attracts:

Bees

Resistance To Challenges:

Drought

Rabbits

Wet Soil

Problems:

Poisonous

Poison:
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