NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Rhododendron catawbiense

Catawba Rhododendron, Mountain Rosebay, Catawba Rosebay, Purple Rhododendron, Purple Laurel, Rosebay Laurel, Pink Laurel

Scientific Name:	Rhododendron catawbiense
Genus:	Rhododendron
Species Epithet:	catawbiense
Common Name:	Catawba Rhododendron, Mountain Rosebay, Catawba Rosebay, Purple Rhododendron, Purple Laurel, Rosebay Laurel, Pink Laurel
Plant Type	Shrub
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Ericaceae (Heath Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Invasive Status:	^(*Key)
Size:	3-6 ft., 6-12 ft., 12-36 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	Pink, Purple
Light:	Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day, Less than 2 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Moist
Bloom Time:	April, May, June
Growing Area:	Mountains, Piedmont
Habitat Description:	Rocky summits, shrub balds, acid ridges and slopes (mostly at high elevations), north-facing bluffs in the Piedmont, and sometimes in mesic situations in the Mountains. Common over most of the NC mountains, but very rare or absent in the extreme southwestern counties. Rare to locally uncommon in the foothills, and also rare and local in the Fall Line counties, where limited to steep north-facing slopes and bluffs.
Leaf Arrangement:	Alternate
Leaf Retention:	Evergreen
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Important for Wildlife
Landscape Value:	Suitable for home landscapes
State Rank:	S5: Secure ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G5 - Secure ^(*Key)
State Status:	W6: Watch List: Regionally Rare ^(*Key)
Notes:	Limited to cooler climates
Leaves shorter than those of Rhododendron maximum, and somewhat whitish beneath. Avery County NC Lisa Lofland Gould
The leaf tips and leaf bases are rounded and sides mostly parallel to each other. Macon County, NC Larry Mellichamp
Large rose/magenta colored flowers. Blue Ridge Parkway, Avery Co., NC Bettina Darveaux
Variations in flower color. Blue Ridge Parkway, Watauga Co., NC Bettina Darveaux
A little splash of color from a few senescing leaves in mid-summer. Blue Ridge Parkway, Transylvania Co., NC Bettina Darveaux
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record