Ericaceae
Mountain azalea
Rhododendron canescens
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Genus
- Rhododendron
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Common names
By language (1)
- English
- Mountain azalea
Synonyms
- Azalea bicolor (Aiton) Pursh
- Azalea candida Small
- Azalea canescens Michx.
- Azalea canescens var. candida (Small) Ashe
- Azalea nudiflora var. bicolor Aiton
- Azalea nudiflora var. canescens (Michx.) Rehder
- Rhododendron bicolor (Aiton) Sweet
- Rhododendron candidum (Small) Rehder
- Rhododendron canescens f. subglabrum Rehder
- Rhododendron canescens var. candidum (Small) Rehder
Flowers
- Flower colour
- purple (USDA PLANTS Database)
Characteristics
- Growth habit
- Shrub
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- In the US and Canada
- Lower 48 states: native
Toxicity: Slight, as listed by the USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29). USDA rates how toxic a plant is to people or livestock; it is not a pet-safety rating, so ask a vet or poison line if a pet or child ate it.
Plant problems
Notches in rhododendron leaves: causes and fixesNotches in rhododendron leaves usually mean root weevils. Learn how to spot them, remove adults, and check for root damage.
Rhododendron leaves curling in cold weatherRhododendron leaves often curl naturally in cold weather. Learn how to spot normal winter rolling, prevent drying, and recognize damage.
Photos
Photo: John S. Quarterman, CC BY 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: John S. Quarterman, CC BY 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: John S. Quarterman, CC BY 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: John S. Quarterman, CC BY 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: John S. Quarterman, CC BY 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: John S. Quarterman, CC BY 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: John S. Quarterman, CC BY 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: John S. Quarterman, CC BY 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Daderot, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Daderot, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Daderot, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Daniel McNair, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
More in Rhododendron
- RhododendronRhododendron ponticumEricaceae
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- Satsuki azaleaRhododendron indicumEricaceae
- Rusty-leaved alpenroseRhododendron ferrugineumEricaceae
- BuransRhododendron arboreumEricaceae
- Rhododendron luteumEricaceae
- Hairy alpenroseRhododendron hirsutumEricaceae
- Lapland rosebayRhododendron lapponicumEricaceae
- Rusty labrador-teaRhododendron groenlandicumEricaceae
- Rhododendron dauricumEricaceae
- JindallaeRhododendron mucronulatumEricaceae
- Rhododendron schlippenbachiiEricaceae
Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.