Rhododendron viscosum (L.) Torr.

Swamp azalea, swamp-honeysuckle, Clammy azalea, hammocksweet azalea, Cory azalea

About plant names...

Swamp azalea is native to the eastern and southern United States. It prefers swampy lowland habitats with a uniform level of soil moisture.

Plants: Woody, evergreen or deciduous shrubs are 3-5' (91-152 cm) around, rarely reaching 8' (2.4 m) and (by some accounts) up to 12' (3.7 m) in width. They have a somewhat gangly habit.

Leaves: Alternate, lustrous, dark green, narrow, obovate to oblong-obovate, with blunt or short-pointed tips. In the fall, leaves turn orange or maroon.

Flowers: White to pale pink, 1¼-1¾" (3.2-4.4 cm) long, in clusters of 4-9. Each flower consists of a long, narrow, very sticky tube, flared at the end into a corolla of five fused petal-like lobes. Five stamens extend beyond the flower, with dramatic flair. Flowers have a sweet, musky, clove-like aroma—said to be the most aromatic of all azaleas. Blooms from May to July.

Fruits: Capsules are ¼-¾" (7-20 mm) × ⅛-¼" (3-7 mm), in dark brown clusters.

Edibility: Poisonous All parts of the plant are poisonous and may be fatal if eaten. The poison is adromedotoxin. Symptoms of poisoning include salivation, watering of eyes and nose, abdominal pain, loss of energy, depression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, difficulty breath­ing, program paralysis of extremities, and coma.

Online References:

Rhododendron viscosum at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Rhododendron viscosum on www.carolinanature.com

Rhododendron viscosum on tjhsst.edu

Rhododendron viscosum at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Rhododendron viscosum on plants.ces.ncsu.edu

Rhododendron viscosum on gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org

Rhododendron viscosum at Maine.gov’s Department of Conservation Maine Natural Areas Program

Rhododendron viscosum on SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network

6/27/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (16 × 10 cm)

7/2/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

12/12/2020 · By Jacquelyn Boyt

6/16/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm)

Rhododendron viscosum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

6/16/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 6" (19 × 14 cm)

7/2/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

6/16/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

6/16/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)

6/24/2015 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Ctr, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 5" (20 × 13 cm)

6/24/2015 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Ctr, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 12 cm)

6/20/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

6/16/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

6/24/2015 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Ctr, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 12 cm)

Range: Zones 4-9:

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