GSMNP
Vacation Guide
Nature
Season: Summer
Wildflowers
Rhododendrons of the Smoky Mountains: Catawba and Rosebay
If you visit the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina in late spring or early summer, you’ll be treated to one of the region’s most beautiful natural events - rhododendron season. Hillsides, creek banks, and forest trails come alive with stunning shades of pink, purple, and white.
Two native species dominate the Smokies: Catawba rhododendron and Rosebay rhododendron. Together, they help define the Smoky Mountains as one of the most botanically rich areas in North America.
Two native species dominate the Smokies: Catawba rhododendron and Rosebay rhododendron. Together, they help define the Smoky Mountains as one of the most botanically rich areas in North America.