Shrubs & garden character · Western North Carolina field companion

Catawba rhododendron

Rhododendron catawbiense

**'Purpureum Elegans' Flower and leaves (Buncombe County, NC)**◐ Part sun or part shadeRandy Harter ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Photo context
Resized and converted to WebP; complete composition retained.

Excellent WNC native for cool, acidic, woodland-edge sites; avoid wet feet.

Sun Exposure: Part shade–shade
Mature Height (ft): 6–10
Mature Width (ft): 6–10
Bloom Season: Late spring

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Get to know this plant.

Sun Exposure

Part shade–shade

Growth Habit

Broad rounded

Mature Height (ft)

6–10

Mature Width (ft)

6–10

More growing details

Bloom Season

Late spring

Bloom Color

Purple-pink

Evergreen / Deciduous

Evergreen

Native Status

NC mountain native

WNC Notes

Excellent WNC native for cool, acidic, woodland-edge sites; avoid wet feet.

Drought Tolerance

Low

Wet-Soil Tolerance

Moderate

Deer Resistance

Moderate

LOOK CLOSELY

Two views, a closer look.

Place two photographs beside one another. Compare the overall plant with leaves, flowers, or bark when those views are available. Captions identify what each photograph actually shows. Images are not at the same scale; species references may show different cultivars.

First photographSecond photograph

**'Purpureum Elegans' Flower and leaves close-up (Buncombe County, NC)**◐ Part sun or part shadeRandy Harter ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Photo context
Resized and converted to WebP; complete composition retained.

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