Pinxterbloom Azalea
Rhododendron periclymenoides
Pink tubular flowers cover bare stems in late April, just as hummingbirds return. One of the most shade-tolerant native azaleas.
Typically 1 quart–3 gal · $17–$85 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
Fragrant pink spring blooms in part shade, arriving exactly when the hummingbirds return from migration.
Pinxterbloom azalea is named for the Dutch word for Pentecost, the spring religious holiday around which it blooms in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. In late April and early May, clusters of pale to deep pink tubular flowers open before the leaves emerge, covering the bare stems in a display that's part wild and part ethereal. The flowers are lightly fragrant. Hummingbirds returning from migration arrive to find this plant waiting for them. It's one of the most shade-tolerant native azaleas, growing naturally along woodland paths and into the canopy understory with more success than most of its relatives. In the garden, it works at the edge of a shade garden or in dappled light under open woodland, conditions that would stress more sun-demanding azaleas. A natural, graceful shrub that rewards the right placement with one of spring's finest bloom shows.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown pinxterbloom azalea propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 4–8 ft · 4–8 ft wide
- Bloom time
- April–May
- USDA zones
- 4–8
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Native range
- Eastern United States from Maine to Tennessee and South Carolina, primarily Piedmont and mountain slopes
Care notes for pinxterbloom azalea.
Moist, acidic, well-drained soil in part shade. More shade-tolerant than other native azaleas. Mulch with pine bark or shredded leaves. Water consistently the first two seasons. Prune lightly after flowering if needed to shape. Does not tolerate alkaline soil or compacted clay. soil prep before planting pays dividends in this species.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside pinxterbloom azalea.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.