    
| Property Description |
196 acres | Established 1934 |
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Medfield Rhododendrons is the site of an important and rare stand of Rhododendron maximum, the great laurel or rosebay rhododendron, one of only three species of evergreen rhododendrons native to eastern North America. In Massachusetts, these plants primarily thrive in swamps, although they can also grow in moist woods. This species is most abundant in the southern Appalachian Mountains, where it can form extensive thickets called "rhododendron hells," since the tangled mass of stems can be impassable.
Though listed today as a "threatened" species by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, rosebay rhododendrons were once more common in Massachusetts; approximately half of the historical populations in Massachusetts have been lost. At the turn of the 20th century, rosebay rhododendrons at this site in Medfield were approaching extinction due to over-collecting and cutting for their showy flowers.
The Trustees of Reservations acquired Medfield Rhododendrons to protect this important colony of rosebay rhododendrons. Currently, there are seven known populations, including this one. The Medfield Rhododendrons colony represents the largest and easternmost population in Massachusetts. Since large populations can better withstand changes to the environment, especially catastrophic events such as disease and flooding, this stand is likely to persist over time, thereby offering The Trustees of Reservations a vital conservation opportunity.
Please help us protect this important stand by respecting the fragility of the site. Surrounding the stand is wetland and river floodplain for the Stop River and Charles River basin. |
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| Trails |
| A quarter-mile trail leads from Woodbridge Street parking area to the stand of rhododendrons. Easy walking, though wet underfoot. |
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| Property Acquisition History |
| Original acreage purchased in 1934. Additional land purchased in 1938. Additional land given by Robert S. Hale in 1936 and 1937; Richard W. Hale in 1937; and W. K. Gilmore & Sons, Inc. in 1961 and 1971. Gift of trail easement and parking area from the Woodridge Trust in 1996. |
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Telephone:
781-784-0567
E-mail:
seregion@ttor.org
When to Visit:
Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of half an hour.
Admission Fees & Permits:
Free to all.
Regulations / Advisories:
The trail is a public easement across private property. Please respect the privacy of neighbors.
How to Get There:
From the junction of Routes 27 (Spring Street) and 109 in Medfield, take Route 27 south 0.5 mi. Turn right onto Woodridge Street and look immediately on right for small parking area (4 cars). Park here and walk down Woodridge Street approximately 200 yards to wooded trailhead on right. Please stay on trail until you come to the reservation entrance, just beyond which is the stand of rhododendrons.
Road Map:
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