Minniebush is a common blueberry-like shrub of the Mountains, rare in the western Piedmont. The branches and both surfaces of the leaves are pilose (covered with long, soft hairs).

Until 2011, this species was known as Menziesia pilosa (Michaux ex Lamarck) de Jussieu ex Persoon. Based on cladistic analyses of DNA data, Craven (2011) found that Menziesia is clustered within Rhododendron, so he transferred all species to Rhododendron. See Craven, LA. 2011. Diplarche and Menziesia transferred to Rhododendron (Ericaceae). Blumea 56:33-35.

Grayson Co., VA 7/25/10.

A tip for easy identification: look at the leaf tips, which are creamy white and shaped like a nipple, a "prominently glandular-mucronate tip" in the words of the Flora of North America.

Grayson Co., VA 7/25/10.

Blueberry-like flowers appear in mid-late spring.

Macon Co., NC 5/14/06.

Alleghany Co., NC 5/29/05.

Ripening capsules. The capsules, dry when ripe, are densely covered with stipitate glands.

Grayson Co., VA 7/25/10.

Grayson Co., VA 7/25/10.

Bark of small stems is reddish-green and smooth or slightly peeling.

Macon Co., NC 5/14/06.

Bark of larger stems is reddish and papery — peeling off in thin sheets.

Grayson Co., VA 7/25/10.