Lapland Azalea

Rhododendron lapponicum

The Lapland Azalea is a beautiful flower that grows in cold places. It has lovely pink blooms that can brighten up the snowy landscape in springtime!

Habitat: Tundra

Appearance

The Lapland Azalea is a low-growing, evergreen shrub with small, leathery leaves often speckled with rusty scales underneath. It produces clusters of vibrant pinkish-purple, bell-shaped flowers that add a splash of color to its rocky, often barren, habitats.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderEricalesFamilyEricaceaeGenusRhododendron

Lapland Azalea

Interesting facts

Despite its small size, this plant can live for many, many years!

It's one of the toughest plants, growing in places near the North Pole!

Its vibrant flowers are a welcome sight on cold, vast tundra landscapes!

The Lapland Azalea smells like spice and honey, especially when warm!

Special abilities

Lapland Azalea has tiny, evergreen leaves that stay green all winter, protecting it from bitter cold and dry winds.

Lapland Azalea can thrive in rocky, nutrient-poor soils where most other plants struggle to grow.

Lapland Azalea grows very close to the ground, which helps it avoid strong, chilling winds in its exposed habitats.

Measurements & details

Height: 5-30 cm
Spread: 15-50 cm
Flower Size: 1-2 cm
Bloom Season: Late spring to early summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: Mild
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Arctic Bumblebee

Bombus polaris

Feeds on its nectar and pollen

pollinates

Green-veined White

Pieris napi

Visits flowers for nectar

pollinates

Lapland Mining Bee

Andrena lapponica

Collects pollen and nectar from its blooms

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Shrub

A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.

Spring Blooming

Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.

Cold Hardy

Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Tundra

This habitat trait refers to species inhabiting tundras, which are treeless biomes characterized by permafrost, cold temperatures, and low-growing vegetation.