Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Rhododendron ponticum L.

Family

Ericaceae

Common Names

common rhododendron, Pontian rhododendron, rhododendron, wild rhododendrum

Origin

Native to southern Europe (i.e. Portugal, Spain and south-eastern Bulgaria) and western Asia (i.e. Turkey, Lebanon, Georgia and south-western Russia).

Naturalised Distribution

This species is becoming naturalised in south-eastern Australia. It is locally naturalised in the Blue Mountains region in the sub-coastal districts of central New South Wales. Unconfirmed reports also indicate that it is becoming naturalised in the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria and in western Tasmania.

Also naturalised overseas in New Zealand and beyond its native range in Europe (e.g. in France, Belgium, the UK and Ireland).

Notes

While not yet widely naturalised in Australia, wild rhododendrum (Rhododendron ponticum) is regarded as a potentially significant environmental weed in the temperate regions of Australia. This is largely because it has become a very significant environmental weed in the UK and Ireland, and also because it is beginning to show invasive tendencies in Australia. It is currently of most concern where it has recently become naturalised in New South Wales and Tasmania.