Catawba rosebay
Rhododendron catawbiense Michx.
Catawba rosebay forms broad, rounded shrubs and sometimes dense mountain thickets. Several woody stems support a canopy that remains green through winter. Most plants reach roughly six to ten feet, although older specimens can grow substantially taller. NC State Extension: Rhododendron catawbiense
Botanical name
Kew accepts Rhododendron catawbiense Michx., described in 1803. Kew Plants of the World Online: Rhododendron catawbiense
Recognizing the plant
The leathery leaves are alternate but crowd toward the branch tips, giving the shoots a clustered appearance. Blades are oval to oblong, glossy dark green above and paler underneath. Terminal flower clusters commonly hold fifteen to twenty blossoms. Each pink, lavender or purple funnel has five spreading lobes and a contrasting patch of yellow-green to brown markings in its throat. After the display, elongated capsules develop and eventually split into five sections. Older bark becomes gray-brown and finely scaly. NC State Extension: Rhododendron catawbiense
Bloom window
North Carolina
Flowering is recorded from April through June. NC State Extension: Rhododendron catawbiense
Native range
The native range extends from West Virginia into the southeastern United States, centered on Appalachian country. Woodland slopes and mountain ridges are characteristic settings for this evergreen shrub. Kew Plants of the World Online: Rhododendron catawbienseNC State Extension: Rhododendron catawbiense
Ecological relationships
The flowers provide nectar for visiting hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. NC State Extension: Rhododendron catawbiense
Botanical sources
- Kew Plants of the World Online: Rhododendron catawbiense
- NC State Extension: Rhododendron catawbiense
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.