Rhododendron canescens - Mountain Azalea

The Canescens Azalea, or Rhododendron canescens, is a botanical species native to the southeastern United States. It forms a dense and bushy  bush that is adorned with numerous small flowers resembling those of honeysuckle in early spring. They are pale pink and their fragrance is delightfully musky. The dark deciduous foliage develops at the end of flowering and takes on lovely autumn colours. This bush of heathland soil tolerates cold and heat, in partial shade or dappled sunlight.

The genus Rhododendron belongs to the family Ericaceae. The canescens species is found in nature growing in large colonies in damp woods, on the edges of marshes, and along streams in North Carolina, western Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas.

It is a perfectly hardy bush with slow growth and a bushy habit that can reach 13m (42ft) in height in its natural environment, but does not exceed 1.50 to 2m (6 to 7ft) in heightunder our climate. In April-May, as the leaves begin to emerge, the flowers bloom in clusters of 5 to 9 in short racemes. They are pale pink (rarely white) and form a funnel-shaped corolla that is 3 to 4cm (1.6in) long. A very pleasant musky fragrance can be detected nearby. The pistil and stamens of each flower extend well beyond the corolla and gracefully arch upwards. The leaves are thick, elliptical, and measure 5 to 7cm (2.8in) in length. Dark green on the upper surface, they are grey and pubescent on the underside. The flowering gives way to woody capsules that are 1 to 1.5cm (0.6in) long and filled with seeds. The Canescens Azalea tends to form large colonies through spontaneous  sowing in its natural environment. Its root system is shallow and forms a  vascular bundle that is quite fragile.

Rhododendron canescens is used in heathland beds, in cool understorey, associated with other azaleas and rhododendrons, as well as Japanese maples, Pieris, and camellias, for example. The early and magnificent flowering of this bush are its main assets, so showcase it according to your desires in a Japanese-inspired atmosphere or in a pot on the terrace.