Top native rhododendrons and azaleas
30 species, native to the US, ranked by caterpillars, then bees and other hosts, food, flowers and shelter.
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Bog Labrador Tea
Rhododendron groenlandicum
caterpillars
39
bees
1
food
8
flowers
95
-
Rhodora
Rhododendron canadense
caterpillars
35
bees
1
food
10
flowers
59
-
Pinxter Flower
Rhododendron periclymenoides
caterpillars
32
bees
1
food
6
flowers
59
-
Flame Azalea
Rhododendron calendulaceum
caterpillars
30
bees
1
food
4
flowers
58
-
Swamp Azalea
Rhododendron viscosum
caterpillars
30
bees
1
food
4
flowers
58
-
Catawba Rhododendron
Rhododendron catawbiense
caterpillars
29
bees
1
food
4
flowers
64
-
Early Azalea
Rhododendron prinophyllum
caterpillars
29
bees
1
food
4
flowers
58
-
Great Rhododendron
Rhododendron maximum
caterpillars
29
bees
1
food
4
flowers
57
-
Carolina Rhododendron
Rhododendron carolinianum
caterpillars
29
bees
1
food
4
flowers
57
-
Smooth Azalea
Rhododendron arborescens
caterpillars
28
bees
1
food
4
flowers
58
-
Pinkshell Azalea
Rhododendron vaseyi
caterpillars
27
bees
1
food
4
flowers
55
-
Minniebush
Rhododendron pilosum
caterpillars
26
bees
1
food
4
flowers
52
-
Mountain Azalea
Rhododendron canescens
caterpillars
24
bees
1
food
4
flowers
53
-
Gorge Rhododendron
Rhododendron minus
caterpillars
24
bees
1
food
4
flowers
53
-
Lapland Azalea
Rhododendron lapponicum
caterpillars
22
food
4
flowers
48
-
Coastal Azalea
Rhododendron atlanticum
caterpillars
21
bees
1
food
3
flowers
49
-
Western Labrador Tea
Rhododendron columbianum
caterpillars
20
food
2
flowers
41
-
Cumberland Rhododendron
Rhododendron cumberlandense
caterpillars
19
bees
1
food
3
flowers
50
-
Smoky Mountains Rhododendron
Rhododendron smokianum
caterpillars
19
food
4
flowers
50
-
Mock Azalea
Rhododendron menziesii
caterpillars
19
food
2
flowers
37
-
White-flowered Rhododendron
Rhododendron albiflorum
caterpillars
19
food
2
flowers
36
-
Alabama Azalea
Rhododendron alabamense
caterpillars
18
bees
1
food
2
flowers
45
-
Orange Azalea
Rhododendron austrinum
caterpillars
17
food
2
flowers
47
-
Santee Azalea
Rhododendron eastmanii
caterpillars
17
food
2
flowers
41
-
Mountain Labrador Tea
Rhododendron neoglandulosum
caterpillars
17
food
2
flowers
37
-
Western Azalea
Rhododendron occidentale
caterpillars
16
food
4
flowers
35
-
Pacific Rhododendron
Rhododendron macrophyllum
caterpillars
16
food
2
flowers
43
-
Hammocksweet Azalea
Rhododendron serrulatum
caterpillars
15
food
1
flowers
38
-
Texas Azalea
Rhododendron oblongifolium
caterpillars
10
food
1
flowers
30
-
Marsh Labrador Tea
Rhododendron tomentosum
caterpillars
8
food
1
flowers
17