Flower profile

Mock azalea

Rhododendron menziesii

Mock azalea (Rhododendron menziesii) is a flowering plant in the Ericaceae family, blooming mostly June–July across the U.S.

Native to Alaska

Mock azalea is a flowering plant.

–states where USDA records it

1,496AK sightings*

4,606U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alaska

Quick look

Rhododendron menziesii, also classified as Menziesia ferruginea, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae, known by several common names, including rusty menziesia, false huckleberry, fool's huckleberry and mock azalea.
From Wikipedia's article Rhododendron menziesii, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Ericaceae family. ^iNaturalist
NatureServe lists it as native to Alaska. ^NatureServe
iNaturalist has 1,496 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #23 among the 121 flowers on our Alaska list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month in Alaska (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (43 records)

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
Alaska: No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alaska.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: WY (S1). (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?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant)) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

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 has no state-by-state distribution for this name, so we can't map it yet.

Names, range and relatives

Other Rhododendron on Bloomipedia (11): Rhododendrons and azaleas, Great rhododendron, Labrador tea, Pinxter flower, Pacific rhododendron, Flame azalea, Rhodora, Mountain azalea, Swamp azalea, Catawba rhododendron.

More from the Ericaceae family (55 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Ghost pipe, Striped wintergreen, Mountain laurel, Eastern teaberry (wintergreen), Salal, Woodland pinedrops, Pinesap, Trailing arbutus (mayflower).

More Alaska flowers

Lingonberry

Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in AK

Black crowberry

Empetrum nigrum

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in AK

Bog bilberry

Vaccinium uliginosum

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: May–July

Sources

USDA PLANTS: no profile matched this name.
iNaturalist, Rhododendron menziesii: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Rhododendron menziesii (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Rhododendron menziesii (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
Photo: Erik Schiff via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.