Cascade Azalea, White Rhododendron, White-flowered Azalea
Rhododendron albiflorum
Synonyms: Azaleastrum albiflorum, Azaleastrum albiflorum ssp. warrenii, Rhododendron albiflorum var. albiflorum, Rhododendron albiflorum var. warrenii
The photo above shows a close-up of the flower
cluster and new years growth fo leaves of western azalea as seen at the summit
of Potato Hill to the north of Mt. Adams.......July 11, 2005.
The
photo at right shows a close-up of the sepals and corolla of western azalea as
seen at the summit of Potato Hill to the north of Mt. Adams........July
11, 2005.
Characteristics:
An attractive plant suitable for the moist woodland garden, western azalea
is a branched shrub from 1-2 meters high. The stems are covered with minute
hairs or longer but appressed, stiff hairs which are reddish. These hairs extend
onto the young leaves, bracts, and calyx. The deciduous leaves are thin with
deep green upper blades and lighter green below. The blades are elliptic-oblanceolate
in shape with entire to wavy margins. They are 4-9 cm long with petioles from
5-10 mm long. The leaves are sparingly pubescent, especially with age when they
may appear fairly shiny (See photos.).
The inflorescence consists of clusters of 1-5 nodding flowers in axillary clusters
near the tips of the branches. The pedicels are about 1-1.5 cm long and covered
with glandular hairs as well as coarse red hairs that are appressed to the pedicels.
The Calyx is divided to the base into 5 leafy, oblong lobes about one-half as
long as the corolla. The calyx is also covered with a mix of coarse glandular
hairs and red, appressed hairs. The corolla is also 5-lobed, the divisions only
to about mid corolla. The corolla is white or cream in color and about 1.5-2
cm long, with the rounded lobes spreading. The 10 stamens are shorter than the
corolla and are densely haired on their lower half. The anthers are ovoid in
shape. The ovary is 4-5 celled and covered with long hairs. The fruits are short,
ovoid capsules from 6-8 mm long with thick walls.
Habitat:
White rhododendron may be found at higher elevations in the mountains in moist
forests, especially along streams.
Range:
White rhododendron may be found from British Columbia south to Oregon and east
to western Montana and Alberta. In eastern Oregon, it is found at higher elevations
in the Blue Mts.
The photo above shows a frontal view of the
flower of western azalea as seen atop the summit of Potato Hill several miles
to the north of Mt. Adams.......July 11, 2005. Note the 10 stamens as
well as the golden-yellow spots on the upper half of the inner surface of the
corolla.
-
Maturing fruits of western azalea as seen along the Sunrise Peak Trail #262A in the Dark Divide, Gifford Pinchot National Forest...........September 12, 2014.
-
Western azalea blooming near the summit of Noble Knob, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.......August 1, 2019.
-
A frontal view of the flower of western azalea as seenat left along the Pacific Crest Trail 2000 near the junction with the Yellow Jacket Trail, Mount Hood National Forest.........July 19, 2014. The photo at right shows western azalea blooming along the Soda Peaks Lake Trail #133 about one-third of a mile uphill from Soda Peaks Lake, Trapper Creek Wilderness.......July 8, 2018.
- -
Maturing fruits of western azalea observed along the shoreline of Wood Lake, Indian Heaven Wilderness......October 1, 2021.
Cascade azalea as seen atop Potato Hill, Gifford Pinchot National Forest........July11, 2005.
Paul Slichter