Rhododendron maximum L.

Great rhododendron, great laurel, rosebay rhododendron, American rhododendron, big rhododendron, great rhododendon

About plant names...

These largest of the rhododendron family are natives of eastern North America.

Identification: These large shrubs often reach 13' (4 m) in height, rarely reaching heights of 33' (10 m). Trunks are multiply branched, crooked, forming gangly, sparse shapes when there is little light, and even, dense foliage in ample light. Leaves are 3½-7" (9-19 cm) × ¾-1½" (2-4 cm), elliptical, with smooth edges, dark glossy green on top, light green or tan below, with a prominent central vein. Flowers appear in attractive, dense clusters of up to 25. They are bell-shaped; pink, white tinged with pink, or white and spotted; 1½-2" (3.8-5 cm) across. Fruits are clusters of oval pods about ½" (1.3 cm) × ¼" (6.3 mm), green, maturing to brown and splitting into five sections.

Edibility: Poisonous Leaves are toxic to people and many animals.

Online References:

Www.carolinanature.com

The Vanderbilt University Bioimages web site

Www.rosebay.org

The USDA Plants Database

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

The New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 14 × 9" (35 × 23 cm)

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 14 × 9" (35 × 23 cm)

6/19/2016 · Rhododendron State Park, Between Fitzwilliam and Richmond, New Hamp­shire
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 cm)

6/1/2008 · Holden, Mass­a­chu­setts · By Philip A. Despo

6/19/2016 · Rhododendron State Park, Between Fitzwilliam and Richmond, New Hamp­shire
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 cm)

6/19/2016 · Rhododendron State Park, Between Fitzwilliam and Richmond, New Hamp­shire

Rhododendron maximum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

9/28/2011 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 6" (10 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain

7/5/2012 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 14 cm)

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm)

7/5/2012 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 15 cm)

6/19/2016 · Rhododendron State Park, Between Fitzwilliam and Richmond, New Hamp­shire

6/19/2016 · Rhododendron State Park, Between Fitzwilliam and Richmond, New Hamp­shire

3/9/2012 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)

12/22/2011 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 8" (14 × 19 cm)

6/19/2016 · Rhododendron State Park, Between Fitzwilliam and Richmond, New Hamp­shire

6/19/2016 · Rhododendron State Park, Between Fitzwilliam and Richmond, New Hamp­shire

7/5/2012 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 9" (14 × 22 cm)

Range: Zones 3-7:

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