Safety note: Toxic to humans and livestock if ingested; honey from flowers can also be toxic.
Catawba Rhododendron forms impenetrable thickets called 'hells' or 'laurel slicks' on high Appalachian ridges and slopes, producing spectacular masses of lavender-pink blooms in late May and June. It is the parent species of most garden rhododendrons. Its dense evergreen thickets are critical winter cover for deer, bears, and many birds.
Habitat
High Appalachian ridges, mountain slopes, and rocky outcrops
Diet
Flowers provide nectar for bumblebees; dense thickets shelter deer and birds
How common
Common
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