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Rhododendron minus Michaux. Common name: Gorge Rhododendron, Punctatum, Dwarf Laurel. Phenology: (Dec-) Apr (in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain)-Jun (at the higher elevations along the Blue Ridge escarpment); Sep-Oct Habitat: Rocky slopes, escarpment gorges, rocky areas in the Piedmont, longleaf pine sandhill bluffs in the Coastal Plain. Distribution: Sc. NC and nw. NC south to sc. SC, sw. GA, and s. AL. This species ranges up to granite domes along the Blue Ridge Escarpment (such as Whiteside Mountain, Macon and Jackson counties, NC). Also in extreme sw. VA and se. KY, where evidently planted. The KY material was determined by Mason Brock to be a hybrid-derived cultivar (R. dauricum × minus), almost certainly planted (M. Brock, pers.comm., 2024).

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Synonymy ⓘ: = S, Davidian (1982), Horn (2019); = n/a — C; > Rhododendron cuthbertii Small — S13; < Rhododendron minus Michx. — RAB, Tn, W; < Rhododendron minus Michx. var. minus — FNA8, Cullen (1980), Duncan & Pullen (1962), Luteyn et al (1996); >< Rhododendron punctatum Andrews — S13. Basionym: Rhododendron minus Michx. 1792

Links to other floras: < Rhododendron minus var. minus - FNA8

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Heliophily ⓘ: 5

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image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

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Height: 6 ft.

plant sale text: This evergreen rhododendron can be a good backdrop for a woodland garden. It tolerates a fair amount of shade though more sun will encourage blooming. Moist well drained soil is essential for the health of this species. Large clusters of pink flowers in the spring and handsome foliage year round make Gorge Rhododendron a lovely garden plant. Though most common in the mountains, this species can be found in rocky soils in the piedmont and along sandhill bluffs in the coastal plain.

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native range: NC, SC, TN, GA & AL



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