Medfield Rhododendron Reservation

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Property Description 196 acres | Established 1934

Medfield Rhododendrons is the site of an important and rare stand of Rhododendron maximum, the great laurel or rosebay rhododendron, one of only three species of evergreen rhododendrons native to eastern North America. In Massachusetts, these plants primarily thrive in swamps, although they can also grow in moist woods. This species is most abundant in the southern Appalachian Mountains, where it can form extensive thickets called "rhododendron hells," since the tangled mass of stems can be impassable.

Though listed today as a "threatened" species by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, rosebay rhododendrons were once more common in Massachusetts; approximately half of the historical populations in Massachusetts have been lost. At the turn of the 20th century, rosebay rhododendrons at this site in Medfield were approaching extinction due to over-collecting and cutting for their showy flowers.

The Trustees of Reservations acquired Medfield Rhododendrons to protect this important colony of rosebay rhododendrons. Currently, there are seven known populations, including this one. The Medfield Rhododendrons colony represents the largest and easternmost population in Massachusetts. Since large populations can better withstand changes to the environment, especially catastrophic events such as disease and flooding, this stand is likely to persist over time, thereby offering The Trustees of Reservations a vital conservation opportunity.

Please help us protect this important stand by respecting the fragility of the site. Surrounding the stand is wetland and river floodplain for the Stop River and Charles River basin.

Trails
A quarter-mile trail leads from Woodbridge Street parking area to the stand of rhododendrons. Easy walking, though wet underfoot.