Carolina Rhododendron or Deer Tongue Laurel
Rhododendron carolinianum
Heath Family
The first of the evergreen rhododendrons to bloom in early spring, R. carolinianum is also one of the smallest, only growing up to about five feet tall. The blooms may be pure white to lilac. The leaves are only about 4 inches long, smaller and have a more tapered apex than R. catawbiense , and may smell somewhat spicy when crushed in the fingers. It is important to know, to distinguish R. carolinianum from R. minus, that with the latter bloom is after the new leaves
grow. photographed in April.