Rhododendron catawbiense
Common name: 
Catawba Rhododendron
Pronunciation: 
rho-do-DEN-dron ka-taw-bi-EN-se
Family: 
Ericaceae
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf evergreen shrub, 6 ft (1.8 m), habit varies from compact to loose and spreading.  Leaves medium, 7.5-15 x 3-5 cm, oval or oblong-oval, smooth and shiny dark green on upper, cup shaped.  Flowers to 6.5 cm wide, 5 short, rounded spreading lobes, lilac-purple, rose-purple, pink, or white, blotch yellow-green, stamens and style rose, large trusses of 15-20
  • -25°F, mid-late, 3/3/4 [quality rating of flower / foliage & plant / performance, based on a 1(poorest) to 5 (best) scale].  Part shade, tough plant.
  • Native to eastern US (Allegheny Mountains), named after the Catawba River in North Carolina.
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: northeast of Community Hall (formerly Benton, near 14th St. and Campus Way).
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  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flower clusters and leaves

    flower clusters and leaves

  • flower cluster and leaves

    flower cluster and leaves