Catawba rhododendron
Rhododendron catawbiense Michx.
Also called mountain rosebay.
Large evergreen rhododendron with big trusses of lavender-purple flowers. Parent of many hardy hybrid rhododendrons used in northern gardens.
Size over time
Typical landscape size 1.8–3 m (6–10 ft) tall and 1.8–3 m (6–10 ft) wide; slow growth, about 10 years to maturity. Intermediate sizes use the planner’s growth curve (k = 0.12) from the #3 install size.
Bloom
Lavender-purple flowers, May–Jun (northern-hemisphere months; timing shifts with region and season).
| Plant | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catawba rhododendron : May–Jun |
Design notes
- Needs acidic, organic, well-drained soil; plant high in clay to avoid Phytophthora root rot.
- Leaves curl in hard cold — normal, not damage.
- Deadhead and prune right after flowering.
Regions
Native range: Southern Appalachian Mountains.
Native to these OpenLandscape3D pilot regions:
Native status describes where the species occurs naturally. It is not a promise that it suits a particular garden; site conditions decide that.
Related plants
Plan with Catawba rhododendron
Place it in a design, check it against your zone, light and moisture, and see it at year three and year ten.