Rhododendron vaseyi: Wildlife Value
Flowers attract butterflies and bees. Members of the genus Rhododendron support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Andrena) cornelli. Tolerates damage by rabbits.
Plant Profile: Rhododendron vaseyi
Taxonomy: Rhododendron vaseyiNames
Pinkshell Azalea
Phonetic Spelling:rho-doh-DEN-dron vah-SAY-ee
Genus:Rhododendron
Species:vaseyi
Family:Ericaceae
The Pinkshell Azalea is a type of woody shrub that can be either evergreen or deciduous, found exclusively in the mountainous regions of North Carolina, thriving in acidic, moist environments near bogs and streams. This shrub can reach heights of up to 15 feet and features a rounded, irregular growth habit. Notably, it is an early bloomer, with its pink flowers emerging before the leaves, enhancing their visibility. Unlike many native azaleas, its flowers are flatter and do not have the typical trumpet shape. In the fall, the foliage transforms into shades of red to burgundy, especially when exposed to sunlight.
For optimal blooming, plant this azalea in full sun to partial shade, ensuring it is situated in humus-rich, moist, and well-drained soil. It works beautifully as a specimen in woodland or native gardens, whether planted alone or in groups, and can also serve as an attractive option for foundation plantings.
This content was created by Elizabeth Meyer for the "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" plant identification course, in collaboration with Longwood Gardens.
For further details on Rhododendron, please refer to additional resources.
Rhododendron vaseyi Feature Summary
Rhododendron vaseyi Image Gallery
Tags
#hummingbirds
#evergreen
#deciduous
#fall color
#poisonous
#specimen
#wildlife plant
#pink flowers
#nectar plant
#rabbit resistant
#wet sites
#specialized bees
#foundation planting
#pollinator plant
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#mammals
#butterfly friendly
#butterfly larvae
#moth larvae
#Piedmont Mountains FACU
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#bee friendly
#problem for horses
#audubon
#woodlands
Similar Plants
Rhododendron vaseyi is often confused with:
Rhododendron vaseyi Feature Summary
Attributes
Flowers attract butterflies and bees. Members of the genus Rhododendron support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Andrena) cornelli. Tolerates damage by rabbits.
Woody
Fruit
Elongated capsule slits in the middle. Displays from August to October.
Capsule
Brown/Copper
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
1.5- 2.25-inch soft pink flowers with orange freckles in the throat. Appear in clusters before leaves emerge. Blooms from April-May.
Pink
White
Orange
Spring
4-5 petals/rays
Funnel
Leaves
Alternate, simple medium green leaves are 2-5 inches long. Deep burgundy fall color if grown in some sun.
Deciduous
Broadleaf Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Green
Red/Burgundy
Simple
Alternate
Elliptical
Ovate
Entire
3-6 inches
1-3 inches
Poisonous to Humans
Salivation, watering of eyes and nose, abdominal pain, loss of energy, depression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, difficult breathing, progressive paralysis of arms and legs, coma.
Andromedotoxin
High
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Flowers
Bark
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Native Plant
Poisonous
Deciduous
Broadleaf Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Rounded
Erect
Irregular
Slow
Medium
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Moist
6-feet-12 feet
Mountains
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Stem
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Native Garden
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Small groups
Specimen
Rabbits
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Pollinators
Bees
Small Mammals
Specialized Bees
Hummingbirds
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Rhododendron vaseyi Image Gallery
Rhododendron vaseyi Attributes
Rhododendron vaseyi: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Rhododendron vaseyi Fruit
Rhododendron vaseyi: Fruit Description
Elongated capsule slits in the middle. Displays from August to October.
Rhododendron vaseyi: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Rhododendron vaseyi: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Rhododendron vaseyi: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Rhododendron vaseyi: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Rhododendron vaseyi: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Rhododendron vaseyi Flowers
Rhododendron vaseyi: Flower Description
1.5- 2.25-inch soft pink flowers with orange freckles in the throat. Appear in clusters before leaves emerge. Blooms from April-May.
Rhododendron vaseyi: Flower Color
Orange
Pink
White
Rhododendron vaseyi: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Rhododendron vaseyi: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Rhododendron vaseyi: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Rhododendron vaseyi: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Rhododendron vaseyi Leaves
Rhododendron vaseyi: Leaf Description
Alternate, simple medium green leaves are 2-5 inches long. Deep burgundy fall color if grown in some sun.
Rhododendron vaseyi: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Rhododendron vaseyi: Leaf Color
Green
Rhododendron vaseyi: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Red/Burgundy
Rhododendron vaseyi: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Rhododendron vaseyi: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Rhododendron vaseyi: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Rhododendron vaseyi: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Rhododendron vaseyi: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Rhododendron vaseyi: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Rhododendron vaseyi: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Rhododendron vaseyi Poisonous to Humans
Rhododendron vaseyi: Poison Symptoms
Salivation, watering of eyes and nose, abdominal pain, loss of energy, depression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, difficult breathing, progressive paralysis of arms and legs, coma.
Rhododendron vaseyi: Poison Toxic Principle
Andromedotoxin
Rhododendron vaseyi: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Rhododendron vaseyi: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Rhododendron vaseyi: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Rhododendron vaseyi Whole Plant Traits
Rhododendron vaseyi: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Rhododendron vaseyi: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Rhododendron vaseyi: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Rhododendron vaseyi: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Rhododendron vaseyi: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Rhododendron vaseyi: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Rhododendron vaseyi Cultural Conditions
Rhododendron vaseyi: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Rhododendron vaseyi: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Rhododendron vaseyi: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Rhododendron vaseyi: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Rhododendron vaseyi: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
Rhododendron vaseyi: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Rhododendron vaseyi Stem
Rhododendron vaseyi: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Rhododendron vaseyi Landscape
Rhododendron vaseyi: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Rhododendron vaseyi: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Rhododendron vaseyi: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Rhododendron vaseyi: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Rhododendron vaseyi: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Rhododendron vaseyi: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
