rhododendron

[ roh-duh-den-druhn ]

noun

1. any evergreen or deciduous shrub or tree belonging to the genus Rhododendron, of the heath family, having rounded clusters of showy, pink, purple, or white flowers and oval or oblong leaves.

rhododendron

/ ˌrəʊdəˈdɛndrən /

noun

1. any ericaceous shrub of the genus Rhododendron , native to S Asia but widely cultivated in N temperate regions. They are mostly evergreen and have clusters of showy red, purple, pink, or white flowers Also called (US)rosebay See also azalea

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhododendron¹

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek rhodódendron ( rhódo- rhodo- + déndron tree)

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhododendron¹

C17: from Latin: oleander, from Greek, from rhodon rose + dendron tree

Example Sentences

The blackened site of the plane crash, overgrown with rhododendron bushes and hidden in the quiet woodlands of eastern England, had for 80 years been the final resting place of a missing American pilot.

From New York Times

It's next to a type of rhododendron seedling that is the only known one in the world.

From BBC

“In my front yard, I took out some rhododendron and put in Cistus, and they are doing excellently,” he says.

From Seattle Times

If you are growing acid-loving plants like blueberries, heathers, hollies and rhododendrons, they will not appreciate the addition of wood ash.

From Seattle Times

In recent years, Joan Baldwin, the president of the organization, said she has seen azaleas and Washington’s native state plant, the rhododendron, turn brown and droop due to longer, hotter and drier summers.

From Seattle Times