Flower profile
Flame azalea
Rhododendron calendulaceum
Flame azalea is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In North Carolina it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: North Carolina
Quick look
Rhododendron calendulaceum, the flame azalea, is a species of Rhododendron. It is a deciduous shrub that grows up to 120–450 cm tall. This species of Rhododendron is native to the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States, ranging from southern Pennsylvania and Ohio to northern Georgia. It may be extirpated from Pennsylvania and Alabama.
- It belongs to the Ericaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 13 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to North Carolina. NatureServe
- In North Carolina, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,292 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #73 among the 111 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist
Flame azalea gift ideas
Handmade flame azalea gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Flame azalea art print
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Flame azalea greeting card
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Flame azalea mug
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Flame azalea earrings
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Flame azalea embroidery pattern
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Flame azalea sticker
When does it bloom?
In North Carolina, most flowering sightings come in April–June.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- North Carolina
- Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S5, secure in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: OH (S2), PA (SX). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “While the plants are known to contain toxins, ingestion of moderate amounts of azalea (nectar or leaves) poses little toxic hazard.” NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Azalea” (Rhododendron spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Vomiting (not in horses), diarrhea, weakness, cardiac… ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records flame azalea in 13 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.
North Carolina counties with USDA records: Alleghany, Ashe, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Forsyth, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Stokes, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga.
More North Carolina flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile RHCA4.
- iNaturalist, Rhododendron calendulaceum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Rhododendron calendulaceum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- North Carolina: North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301).
- North Carolina: North Carolina Noxious Weed List (02 NCAC 48A .1702) (the list names any non-native Lythrum; we apply it to purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), which isn't native).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Rhododendron calendulaceum (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Roger Rittmaster via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.