Flower profile

Pinxter flower

Rhododendron periclymenoides

Pinxter flower (Rhododendron periclymenoides) is a shrub in the Ericaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Pinxter flower is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

20states where USDA records it

2Bloomipedia state lists include it

6,483U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Maryland, Virginia

Quick look

Rhododendron periclymenoides, commonly called the pinxterbloom azalea, pinxter flower or pink azalea, is a species of shrub in the heath family Ericaceae. A North American azalea, It is native to the eastern United States, where it is widespread from Alabama to New Hampshire. It is often found in riparian areas, in wet to dry forests.
From Wikipedia's article Rhododendron periclymenoides, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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 20 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Virginia and Maryland. ^NatureServe
In Virginia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. ^iNaturalist
In Maryland, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 10 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 2,002 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #86 among the 189 flowers on our Virginia list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,237 research-grade sightings of it in Maryland, ranking #100 among the 189 flowers on our Maryland list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (797 records)

Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Virginia	Native	April–May	2,002
Maryland	Native	April–May	1,237

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
Virginia: Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. ^2VAC5-320-10
Maryland: Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maryland. ^{COMAR 08.03.08}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MA (S2), MS (S1), NH (SH), OH (S2), RI (S1), VT (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 peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, sap/juice, 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 pinxter flower in 20 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

Virginia counties with USDA records: Accomack, Albemarle, Alleghany, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buchanan, Buckingham, Campbell, Caroline, Carroll, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesapeake , Chesterfield, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dickenson, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Franklin, Frederick, Giles, Gloucester, Goochland, Grayson, Greene, Greensville, Halifax, Hampton , Hanover, Henrico, Henry, Highland, Isle of Wight, James City, King George, King William, King and Queen, Lancaster, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Montgomery, Nelson, New Kent, Newport News , Northampton, Northumberland, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Richmond, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Smyth, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Suffolk , Surry, Sussex, Tazewell, Virginia Beach , Warren, Washington, Westmoreland, York.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Pinxter flower a low shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.3 to 5.5 and winter lows down to -18 °F.

Shade tolerance: Low
Drought tolerance: Medium
Moisture use: Low
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium
Soil pH range: 4.3 to 5.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: -18 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 190
Annual precipitation range: 36 to 50 inches
Minimum root depth: 8 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability: Contracting Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for RHPE4. 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 nudiflora, Rhododendron nudiflorum.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 459 counties across 19 states; the most are in Virginia (93), North Carolina (65), Pennsylvania (63).

Other Rhododendron on Bloomipedia (11): Rhododendrons and azaleas, Great rhododendron, Labrador tea, Pacific rhododendron, Flame azalea, Mock 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 Virginia flowers

Striped wintergreen

Chimaphila maculata

Native

🌼 Blooms in VA: June–July

Mountain laurel

Kalmia latifolia

★ CT state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in VA: May–June

Ghost pipe

Monotropa uniflora

Native

🌼 Blooms in VA: June–August

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile RHPE4.
iNaturalist, Rhododendron periclymenoides: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Rhododendron periclymenoides (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Virginia: Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10).
Virginia: Virginia noxious weeds (2VAC5-317-20, Tier 1, 2 and 3).
Maryland: Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08).
Maryland: Maryland Prohibited Invasive Plant List (COMAR 15.06.04.06; MDA, updated July 2026).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Rhododendron periclymenoides (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
Photo: jcollatz via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.