Rhododendron pilosum aka Hairy Minniebush

Rhododendron pilosum is a shrub in the heath family, Ericaceae. It is deciduous, which means it sheds its leaves each year. Its common name is minnie bush. The RHS lists Menziesia pilosa as a synonym. It is native to the eastern United States. Its range runs from southern Pennsylvania south to Georgia. Kew places it in a temperate climate. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The shrub grows upright and can reach 6 feet [1.8 metres]. Its thin twigs often form whorls around a central stem. These whorls form groups of branches along that stem. The twigs are reddish brown and bear coarse hairs. Buds form groups at the ends of the twigs. The thin bark ranges from reddish brown to grayish brown. As the bark ages, it breaks into loose shreds. The hairy young growth and peeling bark help identify it.

The leaves are simple, with one blade on each stalk. They grow in turn along the stems, rather than in pairs. Each blade is oval or broader toward its outer end. Leaves measure about 0.13–0.33 feet [0.04–0.10 metres] long. They are dark green above and paler below. Each leaf has pinnate veins that branch from its central vein. The leaf edges have no teeth but bear fine hairs. Coarse hairs cover both sides of each leaf and its stalk. A white tip also helps you tell the plant apart. The shrub does not keep its leaves year-round.

Flowers bloom from May through July in groups of few blooms. Each small flower has the shape of an urn. It narrows at the mouth rather than opening flat. Colours range from yellow to pink with an orange tint. Each bloom measures about 0.02 feet [0.006 metres] long. The small flowers contrast with the much longer leaves. Their shape, colour, and groups help you identify the plant. Virginia Tech names mountain pieris and pink azalea as similar plants.

The fruit is an oblong, woody capsule with coarse hairs. It measures about 0.02 feet [0.006 metres] long. The capsules ripen from the middle to the end of summer. Each ripe capsule splits into four parts. Through the seasons, flowers give way to dry capsules. The leaves, twigs, and fruit all bear hairs.