Catawbiense Boursault Rhododendron               rho-do-DEN-dron ka-taw-bi-EN-se

• Broadleaf evergreen shrub, 6 ft (1.8 m) in 10 years, dense and spreading habit.  Leaves elliptic, mid-green, rounded base.  Flower funnel-shaped, lilac purple with a few reddish or pale brown markings.  - Ball-shaped cluster contains about 17 flowers.
-20°F, mid-late-late, 2/3/4-5 [quality rating of flower / foliage & plant / performance, based on a 1 (poorest) to 5 (best) scale].  .
• Sun to part shade.  Tough plant that takes heat and sun.  Grows in time to small tree-size.
• Selected from a R. catawbiense plant, possibly a hybrid, by Boursault in the early 1900's.
• Oregon State Univ. campus: in island planting on Campus Way (Madison Ave.) at 9th St.