Spring Has Finally Broken Out, All Around!

Rhodon, a rose + dedrone, a tree = Rhododendron, is common to North Vancouver, British Columbia, indeed througout the Pacific North West, – from Alaska, south through British Columbia, Washington State, Oregon and Northern California.

Of the over 1,000 species of Rhododendron in the world, four or five species are native to the Pacific North West:

Rhododedron albiflorum which is a white rhododedron usually growing above 1,200 meters (4,000') to the tree line;

Rhododedron lapponicum (Lapland Rosebay) which is the northernmost member growing in acidic, wet and dry areas not only of Alaska and northern BC but also, in Greenland, Lapland and Russia. It is shorter than most other species, usually less that 30cm (12”) tall;

Pink Rhododedrons (California Rhododedrons);

Rhododendron macrophyllum (Pacific Rhododedrons) which grows1200-1800cm (4-6') tall;

Rhododedron Occidental (Western Azalea) which is common from Oregon, southwest to through the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada mountains. This species can grows to 4600cm (15') tall.

They come in a great variety of colors. Blue, orange, pink, purple, red, white and yellow are quite common.

The Rhododendron macrophyllum is the state flower of Washington State. There is an Annual Rhododendron Festival held in Townsend, WA, usually in the middle of May (11 to 17^th in 2009).