You Are Here: Wildflower Guide > Late Spring to Early Summer> Catawba Rhododendron
To go back to the master directory, click on the Wildflower Guide button above.
To jump back to the Late Spring group, click here.
To jump to another season, click one of these links: early spring : mid-spring : mid-summer : late summer : fall : winter

June in the mountains is Rhododendron season. So many folks come to the mountains this time of year to see these beautiful native shrubs in bloom, covering the high slopes and balds, sparkling among the deep green shadows and tawny rocks up and down the Parkway. In the valleys, the Rhododendrons start opening up around Memorial Day, but will not reach peak bloom along the crags until mid- to late June, extending into July. For great viewing, take the Parkway to Graveyard Fields south of Asheville, or Craggy Gardens to the north. For a nice, easy walk among the Mountain Laurel, try the Pink Beds Picnic Area on Highway 276, 4 miles south of its junction with the Parkway south of Asheville. Along the way you'll see plenty of Flame Azalea in the understory shadows along the side of the road.

We have many members of the Heath family (Ericaceae) in our region - they include the Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Laurels, Blueberries, Trailing Arbutus, and others. Many of our higher peaks (5000 feet and up) are covered in little else, hence the designation "heath balds". Up here, they get a combination of sun, plenty of moisture and cooler air. They also thrive down in the deep, moist creek coves, creating tangled and nearly impenetrable "hells". On lower slopes they often grow to full tree height, but they seem to bloom better in the higher, more open places where they grow shorter and get more sun. The genus Rhododendron includes R. catawbiense, R. maximum (Rosbay) and R. minus , which are all evergreen. The genus also includes all the Azaleas - Flame Azalea, Pinkshell, Swamp, Wild, Pinxter-Flower, Dwarf, Early (and other confusing common names). All of these are deciduous. Many are hard to tell apart without a technical key. The most common one in our area is the Flame Azalea, which is impossible to mistake - it is the only one with bright orange flowers, and blooms from mid-May to late June.

Many folks will try to use these shrubs for landscaping, but results can be disappointing if they get too hot and dry. If you want to plant these in your garden, keep them away from foundations, sidewalks and driveways - alkaline minerals leach out of concrete and stonework, effectively "poisoning" the soil for acid-loving heaths.