Great Rhododendron

Scientific Names

Rhododendron

  • Rhododendron maximum L.
  • Heath family

Common Names

  • Rhododendron

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Parts Usually Used

Leaves

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Description of Plant(s) and Culture

Thicket-forming evergreen shrub or small tree; 10-14 feet high. Leaves are large, leathery, without teeth; edges rolled under. Rose-pink (white) spotted flowers in very showy clusters; June to July. Easily confused with mountain laurel.
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Where Found

Damp woods. Southern Maine to Georgia; Alabama to Ohio.
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Uses

Native Americans poulticed leaves to relieve arthritis pain, headaches; taken internally in controlled dosage for heart ailments.
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Warning

Leaves are toxic. Ingestion may cause convulsions and coma. Avoid use or use only with medical supervision.
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Bibliography

Buy It! Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke., Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10000

Buy It! Chinese Medicinal Herbs, compiled by Shih-Chen Li, Georgetown Press, San Francisco, California, 1973.

Buy It! Webster’s New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, Victoria Neufeldt, Editor in Chief, New World Dictionaries: A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023

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