Rhododendron periclymenoides, pink azalea
Coladonato, Milo. 1992. Rhododendron periclymenoides, pink azalea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://research.fs.usda.gov/feis/species-reviews/rhoper
| Abbreviation | Common Name | Scientific Name | Classification | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plants | ||||
| RHOPER | pink azalea | Rhododendron periclymenoides | Life Form: Plants/Shrub Kingdom: Plantae Class: Dicot Order: Ericales Family: Ericaceae Genus: Rhododendron | Fed. Protected: No Nativity: Native Invasiveness: Noninvasive |
Taxonomy
The currently accepted scientific name for pink azalea is Rhododendron periclymenoides (Michx.) Schinners [9,10,17]. There are no recognized subspecies, varieties, or forms.
Synonyms
- Rhododendron nudiflora (L.) Torr. Azalea nudiflora L.
Other Common Names
wild-honeysuckle, purple-honeysuckle, pinxterbloom azalea, pinxter flower, election-pink
General Distribution
Pink azalea grows mostly in the mountainous regions in the eastern United States from southeastern New York south through the Appalachian Mountains to Georgia. Outlying populations occur in southern Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois [1,9,17].
States
- United States: AL CT DE GA IL IN IA KY MD MA NJ NY NC OH PA SC TN VA WV
Site Characteristics
Pink azalea commonly occurs in mixed deciduous forests along stream bottoms, bogs, shaded mountain sides, and ravines [1]. Wild honeysuckle flourishes on well-drained acid soils in cool, moist locations [2,9,17].
Plant Communities
Pink azalea commonly occurs in mixed deciduous forests [1]. Some common tree associates of pink azalea are eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), pitch pine (Pinus rigida), blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), ironwood (Ostrya virginiana), oak (Quercus spp.), and birch (Betula spp.). Some common understory associates include rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), and maple-leaved viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) [7,8,15].
Botanical Description
Pink azalea is a low, erect, deciduous, stoloniferous shrub which grows to 6.0 feet (2.0 m) in height. It has open branches, sparse foliage, and forms dense thickets. The leaves are simple, alternate, and mostly in clusters at the tips of the branches. The tubular, individual flowers are borne in small terminal clusters. The fruit is a many-seeded, woody capsule [1,2,20].
Raunkiaer Life Form
- Phanerophyte [18]
Seasonal Development
Pink azalea flowering dates are from March to May. The fruit ripens late in the summer and the seed is dispersed in the late fall [16].
Regeneration Processes
Pink azalea can reproduce by seed, although details have not been described. It can also regenerate by layering, sprouting from the root crown, or by sending out horizontal stems that root at the nodes [3,9,20]. Pink azalea seed are probably dispersed by small birds and mammals.
Successional Status
Pink azalea is very shade tolerant [12]. Lipscombe [13] reports that pink azalea produces a majority of its growth after canopy closure.
Immediate Fire Effects
Fire typically top-kills pink azalea [4,22].
Postfire Regeneration Strategy
- Small shrub, adventitious-bud root crown
- Secondary colonizer - off-site seed [23]
Fire Adaptations
Pink azalea typically survives fire by sprouting from the root crown. Birds and small mammals may transport some seed to burned sites [4,22]
Plant Response to Fire
In New England, pink azalea recovers quickly after light fires but more slowly after moderate to severe fires [22].
Fire Regimes
For fire regime information, search FEIS for this species by entering the species name on the Advanced Search page and selecting “Fire Regime” as the publication type.
Fire Management Considerations
No entry.
Federal Status
No special status.
Other Status
No entry.
Importance to Wildlife and Livestock
No entry.
Palatability and Nutritional Value
No entry.
Cover Value
Pink azalea provides cover for a variety of birds and mammals [12,16].
Value for Rehabilitation or Restoration of Disturbed Sites
Pink azalea affords erosion control and steep watershed protection in the mountains of the eastern United States [20].
Other Uses
Pink azalea has been cultivated as an ornamental [16].
Other Management Considerations
No entry.
Table A1— Forest and range ecosystems, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) physiographic regions, Kuchler plant associations, Society for American Foresters (SAF) forest cover types, and Society for Rangeland Management (SRM) rangeland cover types in which this species occurs.
Forest and Range Ecosystems (Garrison et al. 1977)
- FRES10 White-red-jack pine
- FRES11 Spruce-fir
- FRES14 Oak-pine
- FRES15 Oak-hickory
- FRES18 Maple-beech-birch
BLM Physiographic Regions (Bernard and Brown 1977)
- No entry
Kuchler Plant Associations (Kuchler 1964)
- K095 Great Lakes pine forest
- K097 Southeastern spruce - fir forest
- K100 Oak-hickory forest
- K102 Beech-maple forest
- K103 Mixed mesophytic forest
- K104 Appalachian oak forest
- K110 Northeastern oak-pine forest
- K111 Oak-hickory-pine forest
SAF Cover Types (Eyre 1980)
- 25 Sugar maple-beech-yellow birch
- 34 Red spruce-Fraser fir
- 44 Chestnut oak
- 46 Eastern redcedar
- 51 White pine-chestnut oak
- 52 White oak-black oak-northern red oak
- 53 White oak
- 55 Northern red oak
- 58 Yellow-poplar-eastern hemlock
- 60 Beech-sugar maple
- 76 Shortleaf pine-oak
- 78 Virginia pine-oak
SRM Rangeland Cover Types (Shiflet 1994)
- No entry
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