Sweet pinxter azalea, Mountain azalea
Rhododendron canescens
Ericaceae


Landscape Uses:

Specimen plant or shrub beds.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Commonly available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida.
Description:
Open, irregular deciduous shrub 3-10 feet tall and wide. Showy clusters of fragrant, pinkish flowers in late spring. Leaves 1-4 inches long.
Height:
Typically 10-15 feet in height, as broad as tall.
Growth Rate:
Range:
Southern United States south to Marion county.
Habitats:
Bay swamps, flatwoods, moist to wet hammocks, floodplains.
Soils:
Wet to moist, moderately well-drained to poorly drained organic soils with acid pH.
Nutritional Requirements:
High; requires rich organic soils for optimal growth.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Moderate; tolerates brackish water or occasional inundation by salt water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.
Drought Tolerance:
Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements:
Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color:
Pinkish.
Flower Characteristics:
Showy.
Flowering Season:
Late spring.
Fruit:
Half-inch long woody capsule.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Comments:
We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page. See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.


Lilly Anderson-Messec via her Instagram account @lilliumbyrd.
Lilly Anderson-Messec via her Instagram account @lilliumbyrd.