Plant · GBIF taxon 2883094
great rhododendron
Rhododendron maximumAlso known as Great Laurel, Rosebay Rhododendron, American Rhododendron, Big Rhododendron
Great rhododendrons form thick, tangled evergreen understories known as rhododendron hells along moist mountain slopes and stream banks. Large leathery leaves roll downward into tight cylinders during freezing winter temperatures to reduce moisture loss. In midsummer, terminal clusters burst into soft white and blush-pink blooms that light up shaded Appalachian ravines.
EvergreenFloweringWoodland
1 / 7—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Acidic Soil Nutrients
Predators
- White-tailed Deer
ThreatsHemlock woolly adelgid canopy loss, deer browsing, land development
HabitatsAppalachian mountain slopes, stream banks, damp ravines, acidic hemlock forests
Life spanUp to 100+ years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyEricaceae
- SpeciesRhododendron maximum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains toxic grayanotoxins; do not ingest leaves, flowers, or honey, and keep out of reach of pets.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains grayanotoxins that disrupt cardiac and nervous system function, causing severe gastrointestinal distress and abnormal blood pressure.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by long, leathery evergreen leaves up to 12 inches across, growing in dense thickets near mountain streams.
- What to do
- Avoid ingesting any foliage, nectar, or honey produced from these blossoms, and keep grazing pets away.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Visit moist Appalachian ravines in June and July to catch peak blooms.
- Photography: Look for mist-covered stream banks where light filters through the canopy.
- Gardening: Requires acidic, organic-rich soil and partial shade to thrive.
Frequent Companion (c) Alex Abair, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alex Abair · cc-by
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