Rhododendron /ˌroʊdəˈdɛndrən/ (from Ancient Greek ῥόδον rhódon rose and δένδρον déndron tree) is a genus of 1,024 species of woody plants in the heath family (Ericaceae), either evergreen or deciduous, and found mainly in Asia, although it is also widespread throughout the Southern Highlands of the Appalachian Mountains of North America.