Washington State Flower
Coast Rhododendron (common name) Rhododendron macrophyllum (scientific name) Overview The coast rhododendron was chosen to represent the state of Washington in 1893. However, while the State Senate immediately approved the legislation, the House of Representatives did not vote favorably until 1949. Five-petaled, bell-shaped rhododendron flowers are small but grow in loose, rounded clusters. Macrophyllum flowers are normally light pink to purple, though they are occasionally so pale that they appear to be white. Each flower has ten stamens. After blooming, the shrubs form clusters of .5-inch (1.27 cm) long, 5-part seed capsules. New wood is green, but quickly turns grayish brown. Mature stems are covered with thin bark. The bush’s trunk is composed of several woody stems twining together. Leaves are often mostly at the branches’ ends, especially when the plants grow in a very shaded spot. The leaves are long, dark green ovals or oblongs with a leathery texture. Plants are evergreen. Coast rhododendron’s habitat is limited to areas very near the coasts of northern California, Oregon, and Washington.  Plants can grow on hillsides and has been found at altitudes of up to 4,000 feet (1,219 m). They are generally tough and long-lived. The shrubs tolerate long dry periods and will even re-sprout after a forest fire. Coast rhododendrons generally grow in wooded areas, often under fir, hemlock, or yellow pine trees. Close-up STATUS Official PHYSICAL DETAILS Duration: Perennial Plant: Upright shrub or small tree Mature Height: 3.3–6.6 ft (1–2 m) Flowering: May through July Flowers: 1-in (2.5–3 cm) wide, 1-in (2.5–3 cm) long, bell-shaped in clusters of 10–20 Flower Color: Pink to purple Leaves: 3–6 in (7.6–15.2 cm); oblong to oval, leathery Fruit/Seed Color: Brown HABITAT Location: Woodlands, both in open and shaded areas Range: California north to British Columbia TRIVIA The battle for state flower in Washington was contentious. Many hoped that clover would win, and in the end the rhododendron only received 53 percent of the vote. Though Washington women did not have the right to elect government representatives at the time, the vote for state flower was open only to female Washingtonians. The law was amended in 1959 to indicate the specific type of rhododendron, Rhododendron macropyllum.
	Click to enlarge an image Coast Rhododendron Coast Rhododendron Bush Coast Rhododendron Ready to Bloom CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Plantae Subkingdom: Tracheobionta Superdivision: Spermatophyta Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Dilleniidae Order: Ericales Family: Ericaceae Genus: Rhododendron Subgenus: Hymenanthes Section: Ponticum Species: R. macrophyllum
	Author: World Trade Press