rhodora
Rhododendron canadense (L.) Torr.
Rhodora carries its flowers on nearly bare branches, before the new foliage has expanded. Its deeply rooted, rhizome-forming habit allows several upright shoots to occupy the same patch. Most stems remain under a meter tall, with branches that angle strongly upward. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program: Rhododendron canadense Rare Plant Profile (2023)
Botanical name
VASCAN accepts Rhododendron canadense (L.) Torr.; Rhodora canadensis L. is its earlier name. VASCAN: Rhododendron canadense
Recognizing the plant
The flowers form terminal groups of three to nine. Their rose-purple or magenta petals make an unusual two-lipped shape: three lobes form the upper lip, while two lower lobes separate almost to the base. Ten long stamens project from each blossom. The later leaves are oval, hairy and generally dull blue-green. Hairy five-parted capsules release seeds in autumn and can remain through winter. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program: Rhododendron canadense Rare Plant Profile (2023)
Bloom window
Eastern North America
Bloom is usually in May near the southern range limit, extending into early June farther north or at higher elevations. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program: Rhododendron canadense Rare Plant Profile (2023)
Native range
Rhodora is native to eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. Its habitats include bogs, lake margins, rocky openings, thickets and coniferous or mixed woods. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program: Rhododendron canadense Rare Plant Profile (2023)
Ecological relationships
Bees pollinate the flowers. Experiments on New Brunswick’s Kent Island also showed fruit production through self-fertilization when pollinators were excluded. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program: Rhododendron canadense Rare Plant Profile (2023)Wheelwright and colleagues (2006): Pollinator Limitation, Autogamy and Minimal Inbreeding Depression in Insect-pollinated Plants on a Boreal Island
Botanical sources
- New Jersey Natural Heritage Program: Rhododendron canadense Rare Plant Profile (2023)
- VASCAN: Rhododendron canadense
- Wheelwright and colleagues (2006): Pollinator Limitation, Autogamy and Minimal Inbreeding Depression in Insect-pollinated Plants on a Boreal Island
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.