Pollinator plant

Catawba Rhododendron

Rhododendron catawbiense

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Common names

26 names · 13 languages
EnglishYour language
+7 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (12)
Dutch
  • Rhododendron
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 酒红杜鹃[3]
Czech
  • pěnišník americký[3]
Danish
  • catawbarhododendron[3]
Estonian
  • katavba rodo[3]
  • katavba rododendron[3]
  • virgiinia rodo[3]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • virgiinia rododendron[3]
Finnish
  • virginianalppiruusu[3]
Lithuanian
  • Amerikinis rododendras[3]
Norwegian
  • parkrhododendron[3]
Polish
  • Różanecznik katawbijski[3]
Russian
  • Рододендрон кэтевбинский[3]
Slovak
  • rododendron catawbský[3]
Swedish
  • catawbarododendron[3]
  • parkrhododendron[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Rhododendron catawbiense — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Catawba Rhododendron — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Mountain Rosebay — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Purple Rhododendron — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Rose Bay — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Rhododendron catawbiense.
[2] Rhododendron catawbiense — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Catawba Rhododendron — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Catawba Rosebay — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Mountain Rosebay — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Purple Ivy — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Purple Laurel — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Purple Rhododendron — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Red Laurel — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Rosebay — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Rosebay Laurel — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
[3] Rhododendron catawbiense — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Catawba Rhododendron — results[25].names[1]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Catawba Rosebay — results[25].names[14]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Mountain Rosebay — results[25].names[15]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Purple Ivy — results[25].names[16]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Purple Laurel — results[25].names[17]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Purple Rhododendron — results[25].names[18]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Red Laurel — results[25].names[19]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Rosebay — results[25].names[20]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Rosebay Laurel — results[25].names[21]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • parkrhododendron — results[25].names[2]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • pěnišník americký — results[25].names[3]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • katavba rodo — results[25].names[4]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • katavba rododendron — results[25].names[5]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • virgiinia rodo — results[25].names[6]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • virgiinia rododendron — results[25].names[7]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • parkrhododendron — results[25].names[8]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • 酒红杜鹃 — results[25].names[9]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • catawbarododendron — results[25].names[10]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Różanecznik katawbijski — results[25].names[11]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Рододендрон кэтевбинский — results[25].names[12]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • catawbarhododendron — results[25].names[13]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • virginianalppiruusu — results[25].names[22]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • rododendron catawbský — results[25].names[23]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
  • Amerikinis rododendras — results[25].names[24]; taxon id 49486; Rhododendron catawbiense.
[4] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Rhododendron catawbiense ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Catawba rosebay (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 153316; taxon 4SFL9.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Rhododendron catawbiense is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Ericaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
1.83–3.05 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
2.44–3.05 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Dense; Multi-stemmed; Rounded; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
High Organic Matter

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators, specialized bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
West Virginia to SE. U.S.A.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

Catawba Rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense) is a shrub. It flowers from May to June.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Rhododendron catawbiense — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1135150; ID 4SFL9; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1135150; ID 4SFL9; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Rhododendron catawbiense — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Rhododendron catawbiense — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 152125; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 863327, 863328, 863329, 863330, 863331, 863332, 863333, 863334

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.