Flower profile
Pinxter flower
Rhododendron periclymenoides
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.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
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.
- 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 #84 among the 110 flowers on our Virginia list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,237 research-grade sightings of it in Maryland, ranking #98 among the 110 flowers on our Maryland list. iNaturalist
Pinxter flower gift ideas
Handmade pinxter flower 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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Pinxter flower art print
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Pinxter flower greeting card
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Pinxter flower mug
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Pinxter flower earrings
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Pinxter flower embroidery pattern
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Pinxter flower sticker
When does it bloom?
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?
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
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.
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.
More Virginia flowers
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.