Photographs: Gougane Barra, Co. Cork

Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum Róslabhras Family: Ericaceae Flowering: May-June. Evergreen shrub. Re-introduced. Garden escape. Terminal racemes of large purple-mauve flowers. The alternate dark-green leaves are entire, shiny and narrowly oblong. Branches with reddish bark. A densely branched, spreading or upright shrub spreading by seeds and suckering roots. Height to 5m Grows on acidic soils in all areas and is very frequent on bog margins in the west of Ireland. Can be very invasive and is difficult to eradicate. The leaves could be confused with Cherry Laurel, Prunus laurocerasus

Rhododendron, Rhododendron ponticum, Róslabhras