(Michaux in Fl. Bor. Amer., Vol. 1 (1803) 258)
by Susannah G. Cooper
R. catawbiense photographed by Robert J. Mckenzie
Kingdom: Plantae Class: Dicotyledones
Order: Ericale
Family: Ericaceae
Subfamily: Rhododendroidae
Tribe: Rhododendreae
Genus: Rhododendron
Seed: The seed is oval-shaped and winged. The length of the seed is about 2.5mm. The seedcoat is dark yellow-brown with fine ribs. [1]
Seedling: The hypocotyl is light green. The cotyledon is about 5mm long and dark green with 8-10 hairs along the base. The first foliage leaves are branched hairs.[1]
Mature Plant: R. catawbiense is a shrub which is mostly found about 3000 ft on high ridges, heath balds and upland wood. It typically grows 92cm-3m high, but has known to grow up to 6m. The branch growth is dependent on the habitat; it can vary from compact to greatly spreading. The leaves are about 6.5-15cm long and 2.6-6.3cm wide and are oval or oblong-oval in shape. The topside of the leaf is a shinny dark or olive green color. The underside is a lighter green [2]. The twigs are stout. In the first year, the twigs' coloration ranges from light green to dark green. However in the second year, the twigs coloration varies from red to golden brown. The flower bud is terminal; it is yellow-green and 12-20mm long[3]. The flowers bloom from May to June with inflorescence which contains 8-20 flowers. The flowers are funnel-campanulate, or cup-shaped; its size ranges from about 3.5-4.3cm. The flower coloration is rose, lilac-purple, pink or white. The flower has 10 stamens, about 1.6-4cm in length [2]. The capsule is oblong, about 10-18mm in length, and covered with reddish-brown hairs[3].
Area |
Status |
Source |
| North America: Canada; continental U.S. | Yes | Duncan and Duncan 1988 |
| eastern North America: U.S. east of the Mississippi; Ontario, eastern Canada | Yes | Duncan and Duncan 1988 |
| southern U.S: AL, AR, DE, DC, FL, GA, KY, MD, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV | Yes, usually found in mountainous regions | Swanson 1994 |
| southern Appalachian states: AL, GA, KY, MD, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV | Yes | Swanson 1994 |
| Coastal Plain | No | Duncan and Duncan 1988 |
| Piedmont | Yes | Duncan and Duncan 1988 |
| Blue Ridge | Yes | Wofford 1989 |
| Blue Ridge- Great Smoky Nat'l Park | Yes | Wofford 1989 |
| Ridge and Valley | Yes | Duncan and Duncan 1988 |
| Cumberland Plateau | Marginally | Duncan and Duncan 1988 |
| Central Arch | ? | - |
| Georgia | Yes | Mellinger 1984 |
| Georgia, Clarke County | No | Mellinger 1984 |
| Georgia, Clarke County, Sam's Farm | No | Mellinger 1984 |
R. catawbiense is a native plant to North America. It mostly grows on mountain slopes and summits above 3000ft in Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. It was discovered near the Catawaba river, North Carolina in 1809 by John Fraser while he was in North America collecting plants for the Emperor Paul of Russia [2]. R. catawbiense is thought to have made the "most important contribution to the success of the rhododendron as a garden plant" [6]. It flowers relatively late, which allows for the flowers to survive early frosts. R. catawbiense has been used in the breeding of many hybrids to add hardiness to plants[6].
Please refer to cultivation section on genus page.
[1] Hedgaard, J. Morphological Studies in Genus Rhododendron: Dealing with Fruits, Seeds, Seedling and their Associated Hairs. G. E. C. Gads Publishing House: Copenhagen.
[2] Davidian, H. H. 1982. Rhododendron Species Vol III: Neriiflorum- Thomsonii, Azaleastrum and camtschaticum. Timber Press: Portland. p.157-158.
[3] Swanson, R .E. 1994. A Field Guide of the Trees and Shrubs of the Southern Appalachians. John Hopkins University Press: Baltimore. p.303-306.
[4] Duncan, W. H. and Duncan, M. B. 1988. Trees of the Southeastern United States. University of Georgia Press: Athens, GA. p. 220.
[5] Mellinger, M. B. 1984. Atlas of Vascular Flora of Georgia. Studio Designs Printing: Milledgeville, GA.
[6] Street, J. 1987. Rhododendrons. Globe Pequot Press: Chester, Connecticut. p.13-18.
