Pacific Rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum)
Of the beautiful native blooms that our abundant state has to offer, Pacific Rhododendron has earned the crown as Washington’s state flower. This broadleaf evergreen shrub shows off floral grandeur with clustered blooms ranging in color from rosy pink to electric purple. The flowers make their annual appearance between May and July, depending on elevation. This leathery-leaved shrub can be grown as a stand-alone ornamental or planted as a lovely hedgerow to add living borders to your landscape. Pacific Rhododendron thrives in both moist and dry soil conditions and can reach 25 feet in height. In its natural habitat, it can be admired on the edges of forests west of the Cascades and is perfectly content in partial to full shade.
Show your state pride by pre-ordering Pacific Rhododendron from KCD’s Native Bareroot Plant Sale and integrating this native plant into your backyard sanctuary.
Caroline Boschetto, AmeriCorps Projects Coordinator, Community Agriculture Engagement
Sources:
Washington Native Plant Society: Pacific Rhododendron
King County Native Plant Guide: Pacific Rhododendron
Featured Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk) – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0