Virginia Tech Dendrology

Pacific rhododendron Ericaceae Rhododendron macrophyllum D. Don ex G. Don symbol: RHMA3
Leaf: Alternate, simple, persistent, elliptical to oblong, 3 to 6 inches long, thick and leathery, dark green and smooth above and paler below (sometimes rusty), margins entire and often slightly revolute. Distinctly whorled at the tips of branches.
Flower: Perfect, large and showy, rose-purple in color (sometimes almost white), 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, but borne in large, loose clusters, each flower is bell shaped, appearing in early summer.
Fruit: A small brown, 5-parted capsule about 1/2 inch long, borne in clusters.
Twig: Stout; green and glabrous when young, eventually turning reddish brown or gray; buds are large and pointed (especially terminal flower buds) with many imbricate scales.
Bark: Grayish brown and thin, smooth or scaly.
Form: A gangly, evergreen shrub to 12 feet tall.
Looks like: western azalea - Pacific madrone

Additional Range Information: Rhododendron macrophyllum is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information