Baker's Azalea Rhododendron x bakeri
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- rho-doh-DEN-dron BY BAH-ker-ee
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Baker's azalea is a compact, native, woody, broadleaf evergreen or deciduous shrub in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family. Native to the eastern United States, it grows to 3 to 8 feet tall and wide and has dark-pink blooms. This is a natural hybrid of R. canescens and R. flammeum. The genus name derives from the Greek words rhodo, which means rose, and dendron, meaning tree.
This plant prefers moist, well-drained, acidic, humus-rich soil. It can tolerate soil that is occasionally wet. Plant it in partial shade, as it needs protection from the hot summer sun. Avoid over-fertilizing. Pruning, if desired, may be done after flowering. It may spread by stolons.
Baker’s azalea is at home as an understory shrub planted in groups in woodland or naturalized areas, or as a specimen in a pollinator garden where the flowers will attract hummingbirds and bees.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insect problems include aphids, borers, lace bugs, leafhoppers, mealybugs, mites, nematodes, scale, thrips, and whitefly. Diseases include canker, crown rot, root rot, leaf spot, rust, and powdery mildew. This plant is frequently damaged by deer.
While these shrubs remain very popular for landscape use, many cultivars are susceptible to Phytophthora root rot—this leads to leaf loss, reduced vigor, branch dieback, and wilting. Implement good cultural practices first, such as improving drainage with organic matter or berms and avoiding overwatering or overfertilization. However, if you have a site with a history of this disease, consider planting one of the root rot-resistant alternative species listed in the left-hand sidebar.
For suitable alternatives, see this video created by Charlotte Glen as part of the Plants, Pests, and Pathogens series.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cyco Red
- Cyco Red
- Cyco Red
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cyco Red
- Cyco Red
- Cyco Red
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rhododendron
- Species:
- bakeri
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern US
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract hummingbirds. Members of the genus Rhododendron support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Andrena) cornelli.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Elongated capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Orange
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Deep reddish-pink to salmon tubular to funnel shaped flowers with 5 petals with protruding stamens in a ball truss of 3 to 7 flowers in summer; not fragrant.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green smooth leaves with tiny hairs appear before flowers
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Salivation, watering of eyes and nose, abdominal pain, loss of energy, depression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, difficult breathing, progressive paralysis of arms and legs, coma.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Andromedotoxin
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems