Please forgive me since I don't have much detail on this plant. I am trying to increase my knowledge, and from trying to research on the internet and from reading other forums, I definitely need to be more aware. With that being said, I am hoping someone might be able to help identify this flowering plant I found while hiking this weekend in Exeter, RI. I remember the trunk and branches being think and smooth. We were hiking around a lake and this particular one was mixed in with other trees in partial shade. The flowers were very fragrant.
One of the eastern native deciduous azaleas. Geographical location probably indicates which of them it is, to someone more familiar with all of them than me.
Perhaps Rhododendron periclymenoides or Rhododendron canescens. The image lacks sufficient detail to say for sure. Check Don Hyatt's website for more details on native azaleas.
