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Past Articles

During World War II, the US supply of brier roots and burls (grown in the Mediterranean basin) was closed off. Rhododendron roots and burls became the main substitute so the supply of smokers' pipes could continue.

Of course, we're not talking big, straight logs here; the national champion is only 8 inches in diameter and 40 feet tall. It's in the South Carolina mountains. We are, however, talking about a pale tan wood that is very tight grained and fine textured. It's rated somewhat heavy, hard and strong. It machines well, carves nicely, and takes a good finish.

Aside from pipes, rhododendron is good for inlay or small parts, for carving, and is sometimes used for tool handles. Use is limited, primarily, by the size and shape of the plants. My sample was a dead, standing tree back inside a thicket. I had to cut out a "straight" (HA!) section and leave the top still laced in the surrounding plants--trying to pull out what I had cut was like picking up one coil spring from a box of springs! If you go collecting your own supply of rhododendron, you'll find my experience to be the norm rather than the exception. It's worth the work, anyway.