LA BARS’ RHODODENDRON NURSERY, STROUDSBURG, PA. 
5 
NATIVE RHODODENDRONS 
Rhododendrons have always played a conspicuous part in the gardens of the 
old estates both in this country and Europe. During recent years the use of 
native Rhododendrons in small plantings has steadily increased, due to the in¬ 
troduction of nursery-grown plants and more widespread knowledge of their 
simple requirements. 
Probably no other plants adapt themselves to as many uses as the native 
Rhododendrons. While we generally think of them as being used mainly in 
naturalistic plantings, they serve equally well in formal gardens. They give 
us not only the beauty of their evergreen foliage but during the spring there 
is a delightful bloom period which can easily be prolonged by using a combina¬ 
tion of the several varieties. 
Rosebay Rhododendron (R. maximum) is without a doubt the finest of 
the shade loving plants, and while it may not bloom so profusely when planted 
in dense shade, particularly the smaller sizes, the beauty of the luxuriant, 
glossy, dark green leaf will compensate in a great measure for the lack of 
flowers. 
The five varieties of native Rhododendrons adaptable and hardy to the 
eastern United States are listed on the following pages. R. maximum and R. 
catawbiense are known as the large leaf varieties and generally the three remain¬ 
ing — R. carolinianum, R. carolinianum album and R. minus —are termed the 
small leaf varieties. 
Rhododendrons require less care than any other plants, and from an 
investment standpoint will grow rapidly in value. 
Part of a one mile drive extending from the east to west entrances of our nursery. 
R. maximum are happy in such environment. 
