# Red Azalea (*rhododendron simsii*)

The Red Azalea is a beautiful flowering plant that brightens up gardens with its vibrant red blooms. It's a favorite spot for butterflies and bees who love to visit its flowers!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Red Azaleas thrive in gardens, parks, and forested areas.
- **Also known as:** Chinese Azalea, Flowering Azalea, Indoor Azalea, Simsii Azalea

![Red Azalea](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rhododendron_indicum_-_Kunming_Botanical_Garden_-_DSC02873.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Daderot, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhododendron_indicum_-_Kunming_Botanical_Garden_-_DSC02873.JPG)

## Appearance

The Red Azalea is a vibrant, evergreen shrub covered in a dazzling profusion of trumpet-shaped flowers, often appearing in fiery shades of scarlet, crimson, or ruby. Its glossy, dark green leaves provide a striking backdrop, making the intense red blooms visually distinct and spectacular.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Azalea flowers often have tiny freckles called 'nectar guides' that lead bees straight to their sugary treats!
- Despite their beauty, every part of the azalea plant is toxic if eaten, even the honey made from their nectar!
- Some ancient azaleas have been known to live for hundreds of years, becoming gnarled, beautiful garden treasures!
- The vibrant red color of Azaleas is a powerful signal, often attracting hummingbirds to help spread their pollen!

## Special abilities

- **Chemical Defense:** Red Azalea has toxic compounds that help it defend against hungry herbivores, making its leaves unappetizing to eat.
- **Pollinator Beacon:** Red Azalea produces abundant, showy flowers and sweet nectar that help it attract various insects for successful pollination.
- **Shade Resilience:** Red Azalea can thrive in partial shade, thanks to its ability to photosynthesize efficiently in lower light conditions.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-200 cm
- **Spread:** 100-200 cm
- **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late winter to spring
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Provides nectar for foraging bees
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Buzz pollination helps release pollen
- **Eaten by:** Vine weevil (*Otiorhynchus sulcatus*) — Larvae munch on roots, adults nibble leaves

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Red 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 Red Azalea?

100-200 cm

### How wide does Red Azalea spread?

100-200 cm

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

3-5 cm

### When does Red Azalea bloom?

Late winter to spring

### Is Red Azalea edible?

No

### Is Red Azalea toxic?

Moderate

### What is Red Azalea's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Amamigunto National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/amamigunto-national-park) — Amami Islands, JP · Park
- [Garnchayne Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garnchayne-park) — Virginia, US · 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: [Red Azalea: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-azalea)