Pink Azalea

Rhododendron periclymenoides

Pink Azalea

Mason Brock (Masebrock)

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Ericaceae
Genus:
Rhododendron
Species:
Rhododendron periclymenoides

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub
Height:
12-20 ft
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
mar, apr, may
Bloom Colors:
White, Pink
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Azalea sphinx (Darapsa choerilus), Homohadena badistriga, Hydrangea sphinx (Darapsa versicolor), White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata), Gray Comma (Polygonia progne)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
moist, well-drained, acidic loam
pH:
4.5 - 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers organic-rich soils in woodland settings

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.

Source: OpenAI GPT-4o