Rare Plants found on Crowders Mountain

Plant Name: Common Juniper
Variety: depressa
Scientific Name: Juniperus communis
Growing Areas: Low Elevation Rocky Summit or High Elevation Rocky Dome

Common Juniper is not "endangered", as there are between 1-100 populations of it in the entire State of North Carolina. It is also located in Buncombe, Rutherford, and Macom. 

In the North Carolina Listing, it is officially designated as Significantly rare. It also shows as a D, which means it is disjunct from its main range.

These can be seen off of the Tower Trail.

Catawba Rhododendron
Rhododendron catawbiense

Leaf: Evergreen, alternate (appears whorled at the ends of branches), simple, pinnately veined, entire, elliptical, 3 to 6 inches long, dark green above, light green to whitish below. 

Flower: Showy, deep pinkish-purple, funnel shaped, occurring in large (5 or more inches across) round clusters, appearing in late spring. 

Fruit: Many tiny seeds borne in a long stemmed, red-brown, 5-parted capsule, 1/2 inch long, maturing in October. 

Twig: Stout, smooth or slightly pubescent, yellowish green, vegetative buds small, flower buds are large and egg-shaped. 

Bark: Thin, light grayish brown, becoming finely scaly with age. 

Form: A large shrub, 6 to 10 feet in height, equal spread, heavy dense foliage to the ground, becomes more open with age.