Pacific Rhododendron

Rhododendron macrophyllum

Safety note: All parts toxic if ingested; grayanotoxins present throughout plant.

Pacific Rhododendron is the state flower of Washington and the only rhododendron native to the Pacific Coast, forming dense evergreen thickets in the understory of Douglas-fir and western hemlock forests. Its large, rose-pink flower clusters bloom in late spring and are among the most spectacular floral displays in Pacific Northwest forests. The glossy, leathery leaves are 4–8 inches long and curl in cold weather. It is highly shade-tolerant and can persist as a suppressed understory shrub for decades before reaching the light.

Habitat

Moist conifer forests, forest margins, and rocky slopes along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to central California.

Diet

Flowers visited by bumble bees and other native bees; evergreen thickets provide critical winter cover for deer and forest birds.

How common

Common