I have read with interest the discussion on rhododendrons as native plant
habitat in the urban backyard. I especially found useful Dennis'
comments on the values of evergreen plants versus deciduous. My
experience leads me to agree, though I never knew that evergreens had
such good defenses against insects.
However, one thing I will say in defense of rhodies: some of them
provide WONDERFUL flower/nectar sources during the early-mid spring, when
many other plants have yet to flower. I have a bustling colony of
Orchard Mason Bees that spent much of their brief lives nectaring on
rhodies when all the Indian Plum and Salmonberry and Red Flowering
Currant had passed. I also noticed many of the big black and small
black/yellow bumblebees using them, which I believe are native bee
species. I don't see many honeybees using them, which is fine by me; I
think the rhodies I have come on earlier and in colder temperatures than
the honeybees can tolerate.
So the takehome message from me is that rhodies do have some uses -
one month a year.

Janet Partlow
partlowj at elwha.evergreen.edu