Bloomipedia
Mountain azalea (Rhododendron canescens)
Photo: drnancyjackson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Mountain azalea

Rhododendron canescens

Mountain azalea (Rhododendron canescens) is a shrub in the Ericaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–April across the U.S.

Native to Mississippi

Mountain azalea is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Mississippi it's most often seen in bloom in March–April.

15states where USDA records it
349MS sightings*
3,371U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Mississippi

Quick look

Rhododendron canescens, the piedmont azalea or mountain azalea, or wild azalea, or native azalea, or dead man’s handkerchief is a pink-blooming azalea native to the Eastern United States.

  • 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 15 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Mississippi. NatureServe
  • In Mississippi, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 14 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 349 research-grade sightings of it in Mississippi, ranking #78 among the 154 flowers on our Mississippi list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Mississippi, most flowering sightings come in March–April.

Flowering records by month in Mississippi (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (261 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
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Mississippi.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DE (SH), IL (SH), KY (S1), NC (S2), OK (S2). (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 peoplePoisonous to people

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

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 records mountain azalea in 15 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas.

Mississippi counties with USDA records: Alcorn, Amite, Choctaw, Clarke, Copiah, Covington, DeSoto, Forrest, Franklin, George, Greene, Grenada, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Itawamba, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Kemper, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Leake, Lee, Lincoln, Lowndes, Marion, Monroe, Newton, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Stone, Tishomingo, Walthall, Webster, Wilkinson, Winston.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Mountain azalea a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.3 to 5.8 and winter lows down to -13 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
4.3 to 5.8
Minimum temperature tolerated
-13 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
200
Annual precipitation range
32 to 50 inches
Minimum root depth
14 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for RHCA7. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Azalea canescens, Azalea candida, Rhododendron candidum.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 343 counties across 13 states; the most are in Georgia (77), Alabama (53), Mississippi (45).

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

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Sources