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, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV, Chamberlain (1982), Horn (2019), Luteyn et al (1996)

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
• Midwest: FAC
• Northcentral & Northeast: FAC

Heliophily ?: 3