Ericaceae - Heath Family
"A Year With the Trees" - Tree Number 27
Catawba Rhododendron
Rhododendron catawbiense
Spring
The flowering rhododendrons make great habitats for wildlife. The flower nectar and the year-round cover are two of the most important reasons why. So plant some native rhododendrons, and you can help provide some wildlife habitats for many species of birds and small mammals. These rhododendrons grow the best at over 3,500 feet in elevation. Rhodos likes to live on rocky slopes and ridges, as well as naturally treeless areas called heath balds.
The Asheville Botanical Gardens, Roan Mtn. in Tennessee, The Great Smokey Mtn. National Park, and Mt. Pisgah and Craggy Gardens on the Blue Ridge Parkway are some of my favorite places for seeing these incredible flowers during May and June.
Summer
The Catawba Rhododendron is known as one of the most beautiful small trees or large shrubs in North America. The leaves of this tree are more rounded on the bases and bluntly rounded on the tips. This is what distinguishes this Rhododendron from the Rosebay Rhododendron.
The leaves are evergreen and leathery, and the underside of the leaves are hairless. The flowers bloom in large bouquets and are pink or purple. The peak of the flower season varies from elevation to elevation. The flowers are usually quite beautiful in June.
This species is usually found at an elevation of 3,500 0r above. You can find this tree along Newfound Gap road in the Great Smokey Mtn. National Park. You can also find this tree in abundance at Roan Mtn. State Park in Tennessee where there is a Rhododendron festival every June.
Fall
Winter
The large evergreen leaves will be rolled into themselves on most cold winter days.
In this image, the winter Catawba Rhododendron is pulling into itself. It was only 12 degrees F when I took this image of the Rhododendron on the mountain in my neighborhood.
The Champion Catawba Rhododendron lives in the Great Smokey Mtn. National Park. It is 25 feet high and has a circumference of 15 inches.
"A Year With the Trees" - Tree Number 27
Catawba Rhododendron
Rhododendron catawbiense
Spring
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| The Catawba Rhododendron |
The Asheville Botanical Gardens, Roan Mtn. in Tennessee, The Great Smokey Mtn. National Park, and Mt. Pisgah and Craggy Gardens on the Blue Ridge Parkway are some of my favorite places for seeing these incredible flowers during May and June.
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| The Catawba Rhododendron |
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| The Catawba Rhododendron |
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| The Catawba Rhododendron. Photo by Robert Priddy |
This species is usually found at an elevation of 3,500 0r above. You can find this tree along Newfound Gap road in the Great Smokey Mtn. National Park. You can also find this tree in abundance at Roan Mtn. State Park in Tennessee where there is a Rhododendron festival every June.
Fall
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| Catawba Rhododendron in late September |
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| Catawba Rhododendron |
In this image, the winter Catawba Rhododendron is pulling into itself. It was only 12 degrees F when I took this image of the Rhododendron on the mountain in my neighborhood.
The Champion Catawba Rhododendron lives in the Great Smokey Mtn. National Park. It is 25 feet high and has a circumference of 15 inches.
For the love of the trees,
Becky
"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth, find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts." Rachel Carson
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