# 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!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Tundra

![Lapland Azalea](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rhododendron_lapponicum_serie_-_University_of_Copenhagen_Botanical_Garden_-_DSC07574.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Daderot, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhododendron_lapponicum_serie_-_University_of_Copenhagen_Botanical_Garden_-_DSC07574.JPG)

## 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.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Ericales
- **Family:** Ericaceae
- **Genus:** Rhododendron

## 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

- **Frost Shield:** Lapland Azalea has tiny, evergreen leaves that stay green all winter, protecting it from bitter cold and dry winds.
- **Rock Hugger:** Lapland Azalea can thrive in rocky, nutrient-poor soils where most other plants struggle to grow.
- **Wind Resister:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-veined-white) (*Pieris napi*) — Visits flowers for nectar
- **Pollinates:** Lapland Mining Bee (*Andrena lapponica*) — Collects pollen and nectar from its blooms

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Tundra](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tundra): This habitat trait refers to species inhabiting tundras, which are treeless biomes characterized by permafrost, cold temperatures, and low-growing vegetation.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not touch or eat flowers without asking an adult, as some can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Lapland Azalea?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Lapland Azalea?

5-30 cm

### How wide does Lapland Azalea spread?

15-50 cm

### How big are the flowers on Lapland Azalea?

1-2 cm

### When does Lapland Azalea bloom?

Late spring to early summer

### Is Lapland Azalea edible?

No

### Is Lapland Azalea toxic?

Mild

### What is Lapland Azalea's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Mount Washington State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-washington-state-park) — New Hampshire, US · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Lapland Azalea: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lapland-azalea)