North Carolina Wildflowers, Shrubs, & Trees

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Plant Page | Jeff's Nature Pages


Ericaceae > Rhododendron

Palamedes Swallowtail on Dwarf Rhododendron

Dwarf Rhododendron (Rhododendron atlanticum)
Pender Co., NC
4/24/2004

Enjoyed by Palamedes Swallowtails, Dwarf Rhododendron is common in the NC coastal plain in pine woods and savannas.

Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum) Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum)
Alleghany Co., NC
1 July 2006

Statewide and fairly common in NC in various moist to wet soil habitats.

Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum) Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum)
Alleghany Co., NC
1 July 2006

Pinxterflower (Rhododendron periclymenoides) Pinxterflower (Rhododendron periclymenoides)
Durham Co., NC
2 May 2006

A common, statewide azalea with several common names, including Pinxterflower, Pinxterbloom Azalea, Election Pink, Shinners, and Wild Azalea, this species is found in a variety of habitats and blooms in the spring.

Pinxterflower (Rhododendron periclymenoides) Pinxterflower (Rhododendron periclymenoides)
Durham Co., NC
2 May 2006
Pinxterflower (Rhododendron periclymenoides) Pinxterflower (Rhododendron periclymenoides)
Weymouth Woods, Moore Co., NC
12 Apr 2008

The intensity of the pink color is variable from nearly white to deep magenta.

Pinxterflower (Rhododendron periclymenoides) Pinxterflower (Rhododendron periclymenoides)
Weymouth Woods, Moore Co., NC
12 Apr 2008

Leaf detail.

Pinxterflower (Rhododendron periclymenoides) Pinxterflower (Rhododendron periclymenoides)
Weymouth Woods, Moore Co., NC
12 Apr 2008


Pinkshell Azalea (Rhododendron vaseyi) Pinkshell Azalea (Rhododendron vaseyi)
Jackson Co., NC
14 May 2006

A North Carolina endemic, Pinkshell Azalea is rare and is found only in a few locations in NC's southwestern mountains.

Pinkshell Azalea (Rhododendron vaseyi) Pinkshell Azalea (Rhododendron vaseyi)
Jackson Co., NC
14 May 2006

Pinkshell Azalea (Rhododendron vaseyi) Pinkshell Azalea (Rhododendron vaseyi)
Jackson Co., NC
14 May 2006

Pinkshell Azalea (Rhododendron vaseyi) Pinkshell Azalea (Rhododendron vaseyi)
Jackson Co., NC
14 May 2006


Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum)
Buncombe Co., NC
8 July 2006

Common in the NC mountains to rare in the piedmont, this beauty is found in deciduous forest, balds, etc.

Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum)
Buncombe Co., NC
8 July 2006
Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum)
Buncombe Co., NC
9 June 2009
Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum)
Buncombe Co., NC
9 June 2009

Great Laurel, Rosebay Rhododendron, Great Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) Great Laurel, Rosebay Rhododendron, Great Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)
Buncombe Co., NC
8 July 2006

Common in the NC mountains and uncommon in the piedmont

Great Laurel, Rosebay Rhododendron, Great Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) Great Laurel, Rosebay Rhododendron, Great Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)
Buncombe Co., NC
8 July 2006
Great Laurel, Rosebay Rhododendron, Great Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) Great Laurel, Rosebay Rhododendron, Great Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)
Buncombe Co., NC
8 July 2006
Great Laurel, Rosebay Rhododendron, Great Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)
Buncombe Co., NC
21 Aug 2006

Fruit is a dehiscent capsule.

Great Laurel, Rosebay Rhododendron, Great Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)
Buncombe Co., NC
21 Aug 2006

Rhododendron minus or Rhododendron carolinianum
Jackson Co., NC
14 May 2006

Rhododendron minus or Rhododendron carolinianum
Jackson Co., NC
14 May 2006

Both species have brown punctate scaling on the lower leaf surfaces.

Rhododendron minus or Rhododendron carolinianum
Jackson Co., NC
14 May 2006


Catawba Rhododendron, (Rhododendron catawbiense) Catawba Rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense)
Duke Forest, Orange Co, NC
4 Oct 2012

Common in the North Carolina mountains and rare to uncommon in the piedmont. Light purple flowers appear in late spring and fruits (shown here) are brown capsules.

Catawba Rhododendron, (Rhododendron catawbiense) Catawba Rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense)
Duke Forest, Orange Co, NC
4 Oct 2012

Leaves are alternate, entire, evergreen, and tough. These leaves are on suckers coming from the rootstock, most likely as a result of the diseased condition (see below) of this individual.

Catawba Rhododendron, (Rhododendron catawbiense) Catawba Rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense)
Duke Forest, Orange Co, NC
4 Oct 2012

Botryosphaeria dothidea canker on the stem aflicting many individuals of the population in Duke Forest.



Annotated habitat and distribution information listed above is from Radford, Ahles, & Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC Press; and from personal observations and discussions with Will Cook, Harry LeGrand, and Bob Wilbur. Common names from personal experience and supplemented by the following resources USDA plants website, Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and NatureServe.


Back to Jeff's Plant Page | Jeff's Butterfly Page | Jeff's Nature Page

Created on May 7, 2006 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com