Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Rhododendron catawbiense 'Grandiflorum'
Catawba Rhododendron
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Height
- 6 to 10 ft
- Width
- 6 to 10 ft
- Flower color
- Lilac to light purple clusters often with reddish-brown or yellowish-red blotches in the throat
- Foliage color
- Evergreen, glossy dark green leaves
- Bloom time
- Mid to late spring
- Light
- Part shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low to moderate; remove spent flowers, prune lightly to maintain shape
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 8
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract bees and other pollinators; evergreen foliage provides shelter for birds
About this plant
Rhododendron catawbiense 'Grandiflorum' is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with dense, deep green foliage and a full, rounded presence. In mid to late spring, it produces compact terminal trusses packed with trumpet- to funnel-shaped flowers in lilac to lavender-purple tones. The upper petal typically shows throat markings in green to yellow-brown, often with speckling that can read as tan to reddish flecks.
'Grandiflorum' is a long-established garden selection associated with the Appalachian species Rhododendron catawbiense, a plant introduced to British gardens in the early 1800's and widely used for durable landscape plantings. Its generous trusses, evergreen structure, and dependable spring flowering suit woodland borders, foundation beds, and mixed shrub plantings where a classic rhododendron look is desired.
Works well in
Shade Gardens · Foundation Plantings · Hedging & Privacy · Woodland Gardens
Companion plants
Mahonia · Rodgersia · Primrose · Japanese aralia · Bergenia · Maidenhair fern
Design tip
Make ‘Grandiflorum’ a substantial anchor near the house or among smaller shrubs, where its broad evergreen form can steady the composition year-round. Allow some open space around it so the generous lavender flower clusters can read as a unified spring display.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Oregon State University.
