is this the Mongolia I hoped it would be?

Andrea Minyon
by Andrea Minyon
I have recently begun clearing the overgrowth that has taken over the landscaping in our yard. Our home sits on 5 beautiful acres and was cared for very diligently at one time. I'm finding all kinds of hidden treasures amidst the weeds and brush I'm removing. I came across beautiful azaleas and honeysuckle, amongst others, that are very mature. I also came across this (appears to be a tree) growing. It has all the characteristics of a Mongolia tree. However, when the buds bloomed, it bloomed clusters of small white and pink flowers instead of the larger teacup flowers you find on a Mongolia. I've Google searched and researched in what books/ magazines I could find, I have yet to come across a breed of Magnolia that produces this type of cluster blooms. Please help identify this so I can care for it properly.
  8 answers
  • Andrea Minyon Andrea Minyon on Jul 13, 2014
    Here is another photo, it's almost 7' tall and has had an obvious struggle to grow amongst the crowding out here. It's also appeared to have spread and there are several others growing within a 5' range of the original larger one.
  • Carole Carole on Jul 14, 2014
    Rhododendron. Were you meaning Magnolia Tree? If so , this plant is quite different. Rhodos' can grow quite large and the flowers can be colours other than white. They cluster together like this. Lots of them here in the mountains where I live. They have a Rhodo festival every year.
  • Sharon Kavanagh Sharon Kavanagh on Jul 14, 2014
    Agree with Carole, it is a Rhododendron. What fun you will have uncovering "treasures" I am sure the person who planted and cared for this space at one time is smiling. Let us know what else you discover.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Jul 14, 2014
    Definitely a rhododendron. I saw lots of them blooming in the north Georgia mountains when I was there a couple of weeks ago.
  • Andrea the beauty of finding natives such as this Rhododendron growing is that there is really no care! Now that you took the underbrush that was crowding them away I would just keep the leaf litter as mulch around and under the Rhododendron. they like shade so do not cut down the trees! No need to fertilize or prune-just let it be to grow upwards of 20-30 feet! When I visited your area I could not believe how beautiful the native plants are in the Applachian mountains. this Rhododendron could be rhododendron maximum or American Rhododendron (check out pics since you have the plant in front of you). You are very lucky. Happy gardening
  • Andrea Minyon Andrea Minyon on Jul 14, 2014
    Thank you all. I moved here from New Jersey and am seeing things that o have NEVER seen before in my life! Its so beautiful here. Almost every other day I have to call my neighbor, who is native to this area, and I ask" is this a weed or a Bush? " LOL She laughs and laughs at my ignorance! But I know it's a keeper when she wants to " just take a snip of this" !
  • Kathe Kathe on Jan 11, 2020

    I believe you meant "Magnolia" but looks like it's Rhododendron.

  • Cynthia Cynthia on Apr 21, 2021

    Rhododendron. Grows very tall. Big rhodies are expensive at garden shops. Wild rhodies are the state flower of Washington State, but not as pretty as the domestically developed plants. They like lots of water. You can find special fertilizer for azalias and rhododendrons in garden centers.