pink azalea Ericaceae Rhododendron periclymenoides (Michx.) Shinners symbol: RHPE4 Leaf: Alternate (tightly clustered at twig tips appearing whorled), simple, deciduous, ovate, 1 to 3 inches long, pinnately veined, dull green above and green below with a ciliate margin. Flower: Species is monoecious; very showy, light pink to violet, 1 1/2 inches long and across, in large clusters appearing with or just before the leaves in mid-spring. Fruit: An oblong capsule, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, with ascending hairs. The capsule splits when ripe, releasing the very tiny, somewhat winged seeds in late summer. Twig: Very slender, red-brown to gray, bristly-hairy; buds are multiple terminal, pointed and yellow-green to red-brown, flower buds are much larger 1/2 inch long, broadly ovate. Bark: Gray to redddish-brown, becoming finely shreddy. Form: A stoloniferous shrub that branches low, often with a crooked stem, may reach up to 4 feet tall but usually smaller. The multiple terminal buds often result in whorls of twigs from the central stem. Looks like: flame azalea - swamp azalea - dwarf azalea Additional Range Information: Rhododendron periclymenoides is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting pink azalea. External Links: USDAFS Additional Silvics USDA Plants Database