Rhododendrons are evergreen members of the azalea family and they are very abundant.
Depending on the species and the elevation, they generally bloom from May into July. The two most abundant species are the Purple Laurel or Catawba Rhododendron, Rhododendron catawbiense and the Great Laurel or Rosebay, Rhododendron maximum . The Rosebay are very abundant plants of the forest understory and in the winter, their greenery is a very welcome sight. They have an interesting habit that a branch will alternate a year of bloom with a year of growth. Principally, rhododendrons are used as landscaping plants and many hybrid varieties are available.