{"product_id":"rhododendron-maximum-rosebay-rhododendron","title":"Rhododendron maximum (Rosebay Rhododendron)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe largest and hardiest native North American rhododendron, rosebay rhododendron's toxic foliage confers genuine deer and rabbit resistance, while a documented specialist bee relies on the genus specifically - an evergreen understory anchor that dominates sub-canopy layers across roughly 12,000 square miles of the southern Appalachians.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecies Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRhododendron maximum, commonly called rosebay rhododendron or great laurel, is the largest rhododendron native to North America, a large, upright, multi-stemmed evergreen shrub typically reaching 5 to 15 feet (occasionally to 30 feet in its native Appalachian range). Large, leathery, strap-like evergreen leaves surround late-blooming clusters of up to 25 white to rose-pink flowers in early summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApplication\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvergreen understory and woodland shade plantings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeer- and rabbit-pressured sites - toxic foliage confers resistance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecialist bee habitat (Andrena cornelli) alongside bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWinter-interest plantings - broad-leaved evergreen structure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Conditions \/ Specification Data\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Part Shade to Full Shade - morning sun improves flowering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\/Moisture Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moist, well-drained, acidic soils rich in organic matter; avoid heavy clay\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate - rapid via vegetative\/stem-layering spread\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shrub\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8-15 ft.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall Color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Insignificant\/None - evergreen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Color \/ Period:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pink, White; June-August\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWetland Indicator Status:\u003c\/strong\u003e NI (No Indicator) - see flags\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative Range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Northeast\/Mid-Atlantic (full list)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHydrology:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mesic-Moist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRoot Depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate (12-24 in.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrought Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low (already-confirmed intolerance of drought and heat from earlier work)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShade Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tolerant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSalinity Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e None - very intolerant of deicing salts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlood Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate - A moist woodland and streamside understory shrub tolerant of periodically wet soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Upright, Multi-stemmed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Hardiness Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3-7\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes (Rarely Damaged)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollinator Value:\u003c\/strong\u003e Supports bees, supports specialist\/oligolectic bees, supports butterflies, supports hummingbirds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting Guidance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIMPORTANT:\u003c\/strong\u003e foliage is toxic - this is the mechanism behind its confirmed deer and rabbit resistance. Site away from winter winds and other shrubs, given its shallow, fibrous root system; forms dense thickets that exclude nearly all other plants once established.\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Pinelands Nursery","offers":[{"title":"#1 Container","offer_id":48941161545799,"sku":"RHO-MAX #1","price":19.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"#5 Container","offer_id":48941161578567,"sku":"RHO-MAX #5","price":65.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0675\/1649\/7991\/files\/Rhododendronmaximum4.jpg?v=1791565093","url":"https:\/\/www.pinelandsnursery.com\/products\/rhododendron-maximum-rosebay-rhododendron","provider":"Pinelands Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}