Rhododendron canescens ~ Piedmont Azalea

Piedmont Azalea is a large native deciduous shrub with finely toothed dull green foliage with grey undersides that turns rusty red in fall.  Sweetly fragrant clusters of pink honeysuckle-like flowers with darker pink bodies and elongated pink stamen bloom in early spring.  Grows best in dappled sun and rich, consistently moist, well-drained acidic soils.  If allowed to naturalize, can reach a size of 6-15'.  

MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance.  Water Regularly.  Mulch in winter.  Proper care and air circulation should prevent most pest and disease problems.  Poor drainage will lead to root rot.  Rhododendrons are susceptible canker, crown rot, root rot, leaf spot, rust, powdery mildew, aphids, borers, lacebugs, leafhoppers, mealybugs, mites, nematodes, scale, thrips, and whitefly.  Note; All parts of the plant are highly toxic if ingested for humans and pets.
LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Naturalized Areas, Wildlife Garden, Foundation Plantings, and Hedges.

COMPANION PLANTS:  Hydrangea, Azalea, Coral Bells

IMAGES:  EoRdE6, Rhododendron Canescens Closeup, CC BY-SA 4.0, (2) Photoset by Buddha Dog, Native Azalea (1)+(2),  (3) Photo by David J. Stang, Rhododendron canescens 2zz, CC BY-SA 4.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.