woodland shrub
Catawba Rhododendron
Rhododendron catawbiense
Native to Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia
Virginia to Kentucky, south to Georgia and Alabama
- Light Full shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moisture preference
- Zones 5–8 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Apr–Jun Flowering time
- Height up to 20 ft to 6.1 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland shrub for full shade. At up to 20 ft, it needs room in shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 5–8.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Common Eastern Bumble Bee
also Two-spotted Bumble Bee, Black-tailed Bumble Bee, Perplexing Bumble Bee +2 more
Orange-legged Furrow Bee, Sanderson's Bumble Bee - Beetles Lined Longhorn Beetle also Pidonia aurata
- Butterflies Limenitis astyanax
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West VirginiaUnited States (8): AL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Virginia to Kentucky, south to Georgia and AlabamaThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5–8 · Canadian 6–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Various well-drained soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 20 ft (to 6.1 m)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- ShrubWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Apr–JunWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- Pink, PurpleThe bloom color, or colors.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.