Rhododendron minus Michaux. Gorge Rhododendron, Punctatum, Dwarf Laurel. Phen: (Dec-) Apr (in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain)-Jun (at the higher elevations along the Blue Ridge escarpment); Sep-Oct Hab: Rocky slopes, escarpment gorges, rocky areas in the Piedmont, longleaf pine sandhill bluffs in the Coastal Plain. Dist: 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 probably introduced.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Synonymy: = K1, K3, S, Davidian (1982), Horn (2019); = n/a – C; > Rhododendron cuthbertii Small; < 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

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Heliophily: 5