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Rhododendron arborescens
Also called Sweet Azalea, White Honeysuckle
Rhododendron arborescens, also known as smooth azalea or sweet azalea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, native to the eastern seaboard of the United States.
It grows to a height of 2.4–3 metres (8–10 ft). Generally blooming in late spring and early summer, the flowers range in color from white to pink with red stamens. The glossy green leaves can also become deep red to purple in the fall. This plant, indigenous to the United States, is generally found growing near moist areas or streams. The plant prefers growth in acidic soil with a pH of 6.8 or less. It grows best in sandy soils above 910 metres (3,000 ft).
R. arborescens grows best in soil that is slightly acidic at a pH of 5.5–6. It does not grow well in excessive water and drainage is necessary for healthy growth. It is tolerant of full sunlight but must not be overexposed. It is beneficial to plant it with the roots slightly above the ground and accumulating soil up to the plant roots. Organic matter such as sawdust and pinebark may aid the growth of the plant. Depositing a few inches of pine bark or wood chips may help in keeping moisture and preventing weeds from growing around the plant. Mature specimens do not need to be fed with fertilizer.
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
R. arborescens contains andromedotoxins, specifically known as grayanotoxins which are water-soluble diterpenoid compounds. Both the leaf and flowers of this plant are sources of toxins.
Consuming as little as 3 milliliter of nectar per kilogram body weight may be highly pernicious.
It is distributed in the eastern United States. They are known to grow in parts of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. They are found among streams near mountains or moist forests. Rhododendron arborescens are generally known as late bloomers. They have a range of blooming from early April till September.
Rhododendron aberconwayi · Sagan Dalya · Rhododendron adenogynum · Rhododendron adenosum · Rhododendron aganniphum · Cascade azalea · Rhododendron albrechtii · Rhododendron album · Rhododendron alutaceum · Rhododendron annae · Rhododendron anthopogon · Rhododendron araiophyllum
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Rhododendron arborescens by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.
