Rhododendron viscosum
Subgenus Pentanthera Section Pentanthera
Species deciduous azalea
Synonym: The Swamp Azalea
Epithet: Sticky
AGM 1937 (1993, 2002) 2012
H6
An upright deciduous shrub usually to 1.5-2m high in cultivation, but can be a small tree to 4.5m in the wild
Flowers: Trusses of 3-14 tubular funnel shaped, single flowers, opening after the leaves. Flowers are 30-45mm long × 15-25mm wide; white or white shaded pink
June/July
Scented with a strong spicy fragrance
Foliage: Dark green leaves with a paler green underside; obovate, oblong-obovate or oblanceolate; 15-73mm long × 5-35mm wide; leaves usually glabrous, margin strigose; midrib strigose. Deciduous
Distribution: Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut to N Carolina, parts of S Carolina, SE Tennessee, Ohio and Louisiana
Other Information: introduced in 1734 by Bartram; a variable species often called Swamp Honeysuckle. A species azalea which grows well in wet but not stagnant soils with some sun; commercially available
Number 65 of the Top 100 Rhododendrons chosen by members of the RCM Group in 2015
R. viscosum var. glaucum the leaves on this form are glaucous below and sometimes both surfaces
AM 1921 (F.G. Strover) as Azalea viscosa glauca; flowers white
R. viscosum var. rhodanthum is the usual pink form of this species
Location and Photo: Caerhays Estate
Location: Surrey
Photo: Polly Cooke
Location: Tannersville Bog,PA
Photo: Philippe de Spoelberch
Location: Surrey
Photo: Polly Cooke
Photo: John Weagle
Photo: John Weagle
Photo: Hans Eiberg