Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Rhododendron albiflorum Hook. var. albiflorum
Cascade Azalea
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Height
- 3 to 10 ft
- Width
- 3 to 8 ft
- Flower color
- White, bell-shaped flowers, often with a faint greenish tint and subtle spotting
- Foliage color
- Deciduous medium green leaves, turning yellow to orange in fall
- Bloom time
- Late spring to early summer
- Light
- Partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; remove spent flowers; prune lightly after bloom as needed
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 6 to 8
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract bees and other pollinators
About this plant
Rhododendron albiflorum var. albiflorum is a deciduous shrub native to the mountainous forests of western North America. In late spring into early summer, its pendulous, bowl-shaped flowers appear singly or in small clusters. The blooms are predominantly white to creamy white, may show pale green tint or spotting in the throat and they emit a gentle fragrance that can attract native pollinators during their brief flowering period.
This species is known for its thin, shiny green leaves that often flush reddish or orange in autumn before dropping. The combination of airy white flowers in early summer and the plant's season-specific presence in cool mountain understories gives it quiet charm in naturalized garden settings or woodland edges.
Works well in
Shade Gardens · Foundation Plantings · Native Gardens · Woodland Gardens
Companion plants
Mahonia · Rodgersia · Primrose · Japanese aralia · Bergenia · Maidenhair fern
Design tip
Cascade azalea feels most at home in a loose, natural-looking planting rather than a highly structured one. Tuck it among other woodland plants where its airy form can blend into the surroundings, then become more noticeable when the white flowers appear in late spring.
