Early Azalea

Rhododendron prinophyllum

Taxonomy

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

Growth Characteristics

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

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, 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)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
4.5 - 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
Prefers organic matter-rich environments

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