3-29-11: Rhododendron 'Catawbiense Album'

Let’s take a look at an ironclad (meaning very hardy) rhododendron called ‘Catawbiense Album’, what a mouthful.

I did a bit a research on the name and Catawbiense is from the Catawba River and Native American tribe of people in the Carolinas. The parent plant to this rhododendron is native to the eastern U.S., more specifically the Blue Ridge Mountains of North and South Carolina. In this part of the country by a once wild river grew many beautiful rhododendrons and they say it was a sight to behold when you looked down upon a hillside of brilliant color from these plants. One of the offspring of those glorious plants is the Catawbiense Album Rhododendron we are featuring today. Growing five to six feet wide and tall with deep evergreen leaves and white flowers with greenish yellow spotting opening from buds that are blushed with lilac; this evergreen will add year-round beauty to any garden. It blooms late midseason, meaning May/June. Rhododendrons have about a 40 year life expectancy and this one will tolerate cold down to twenty-five degrees below zero. Plant with a mix of large evergreen trees, incense cedar for example and smaller deciduous trees, how about a vine maple or two or you may just add this hardy plant to your existing garden where space is available.

Pleasant Hill Nursery is pleased to offer:

Rhododendron 'Lee's Dark Purple' available in #1's, #3's & #7's: Call for Prices & to Check Availability

Click here to print this featured plant - PDF File