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.
For suitable alternatives, see this video created by Charlotte Glen as part of the Plants, Pests, and Pathogens series.
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.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Open
- Spreading
-
-
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.
-
-
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.
-
-
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
