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Rhododendron periclymenoides
Also called Pinxterbloom Azalea, Election Pink, Pinxter Flower, Pinkster Flower
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.
This species produces showy pink flowers in the spring. They have 2-inch (51 mm) long stamens; they carry a strong, sweet scent similar to petunias. The leaves are bright green and ovate. The trunk grows to be about 9 feet (2.7 m) tall. Like many members of the genus, the plant contains toxins in all parts of the flower.
Rhododendron periclymenoides is used in horticulture as an ornamental plant. Common landscape uses for the plant are as a foundation plant? and in shrub borders. Both seeds and cuttings of the plant can be used for propagation. Since lack of proper drainage can lead to root rot, North Carolina State University advises the use of raised beds if the plant is going to be grown in soil that contains a lot of clay.
Rhododendron periclymenoides has low levels of toxicity, and all parts of the plant may cause vomiting or diarrhoea if ingested in quantity. The poisons produced by rhododendrons are known as grayanotoxins, which are a class of neurotoxins. These neurotoxins work by blocking the inactivation of sodium channel receptors, causing cell dysfunction.
The honey which is made by bees which collect pollen from genus Rhododendron species is referred to as “mad honey”. Humans who ingest this honey begin exhibiting many of the symptoms listed above as well as hypotension and other irregularities of cardiac rhythm. Outside of “mad honey” ingestion, human poisoning by rhododendrons is rare. However, pets and other livestock can still ingest the plant parts. While not common in the United States, “mad honey” is believed to have medicinal qualities in China.
Rhododendron aberconwayi · Sagan Dalya · Rhododendron adenogynum · Rhododendron adenosum · Rhododendron aganniphum · Cascade azalea · Rhododendron albrechtii · Rhododendron album · Rhododendron alutaceum · Rhododendron annae · Rhododendron anthopogon · Rhododendron araiophyllum
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Rhododendron periclymenoides by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.
