How to Grow and Care for Catawba rosebay

Catawba rosebay, also known as Mountain rosebay, Purple rhododendron, Red laurel

Catawba rosebay requires attentive care, thriving in well-draining, acidic soil and partial shade to avoid scorching. Special care points include ensuring proper water management to maintain moist soil without waterlogging and protection from harsh winter winds. Regular mulching helps retain soil moisture and provide necessary nutrients.

Watering schedule: Every 1-2 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Partial sun

Toxic to Human & Pets

In This Article

Planting and Growing Catawba rosebay

Toughness	High
Care Level	Low
Care Difficulty	Hard
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 1-2 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Partial sun
Soil Type	Garden Soil
Soil pH	4.5-6
Planting Time	Spring, Fall
Hardiness Zones	4-8
Toxicity	Toxic to Human & Pets

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Varieties of Catawba rosebay

Azaleas 'English Roseum'

The azaleas 'English Roseum' is a stunning rhododendron with clusters of funnel-shaped lilac pink flowers (a rosy color that likely inspired this cultivar's name) that have yellow marks spattering their throats. These shrubs sport elliptic, glossy leaves and have a 75-100 year lifespan. Their nectar brings in butterflies and hummingbirds, making this evergreen a lively addition to the garden.

Azaleas 'Nova Zembla'

Azaleas 'Nova Zembla' is an evergreen, small shrub offering bright red, trumpet-shaped flowers with deep maroon. This cultivar of Catawba rosebay was first grown by Koster & Sons Nurseries, Netherlands in 1902. It was named for the Russian island of Nova Zembla (also known as Novaya Zemlya). Blooming from mid-spring, it makes a showy display in garden beds and borders.

Azaleas 'Purple Splendour'

Most Catawba rosebays have flowers in the pale blue to lilac spectrum, but azaleas 'Purple Splendour' boasts spectacularly intense purple blooms. This evergreen shrub only grows to 2 m in height after ten years, so it's a little more slow growing than the parent plant.

Azaleas 'Cunningham's White'

Azaleas 'Cunningham's White' is a variant of rhododendron or rosebay with attractive white flowers. It is named for the person who selected it in 1850. This popular shrub maintains fine evergreen foliage throughout the year and produces large clusters of flowers in summer.

Catawba rosebay 'Roseum Elegans'

Selected to thrive in cooler climates and grow vigorously, catawba rosebay 'Roseum Elegans' is a Catawba rosebay cultivar that produces masses of stunningly beautiful rounded flower clusters that can hold up to 20 purple-pink flowers adorned with brownish throat markings. It is prized as one of the most adaptable rhododendrons that can live for up to 100 years!

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The Toxicity of Catawba rosebay

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More General Info About Catawba rosebay

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Quickly Identify Catawba rosebay

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Catawba rosebay is easily distinguishable by its large, leathery leaves that typically gather in whorls at the ends of its branches. These leaves are substantial at 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) in length. The plant is known for its showy flowers, which are bell-shaped with five lobes and often display spots within. These blooms group together at the tips of the branches, forming a terminal cluster or raceme. Young shoots of the plant carry a yellowish hue, adding to its distinctive appearance.