About Rhododendrons

What is a Rhododendron?

The rhododendron is a genus of over 1,000 species (and numerous hybrids) of woody plants in the heath family.

Pronounced: row·duh·DEN·druhn

Rhododendrons (or ‘rhodies’ as they are sometimes called) can be evergreen or deciduous, and are found mainly in Asia. However, there are a number of rhododendrons native to the Pacific Northwest and North America generally.

Azaleas (pronounced uh·ZEI·lee·uh) are subgenera of rhododendrons and can be distinguished by the number of stamens (five) in the flower of the plant.

The state flower of Washington is the Pacific Rhododendron (R. macrophyllum), which can be found in the western half of Washington and Oregon and the northern coast of California.

Rhododendron Care and Tips

Are you looking for helpful information about care for your rhododendrons? Learn more about caring for this fantastic genus from our parent nonprofit the Portland Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society and their Rhododendron Care & Knowledge Page.