Rhododendron maximum Linnaeus. Great Laurel, White Rhododendron, Great Rhododendron. Phen: Jun-Aug; Sep-Oct. Hab: Moist slopes, wet flats, bogs, swamps, north-facing bluffs in the Piedmont. Dist: Largely Appalachian: ME, NY, and OH south to GA and AL, primarily in the mountains.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Apparently most closely related to R. ponticum Linnaeus of Turkey and vicinity (Milne 2004).
Synonymy: = C, F, FNA8, G, K1, K3, K4, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tn, Va, W, WV, Chamberlain (1982), Horn (2019), Luteyn et al (1996)
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© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw 
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson 
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson 
© Alan Cressler: Rhododendron maximum 'red max', Pisgah National Forest, McDowell County, North Carolina 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Rhododendron maximum 'red max', Pisgah National Forest, McDowell County, North Carolina 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷