Pinkshell azalea (Rhododendron vaseyi)- one of the first and most beautiful spring-blooming native azaleas. Pink azalea is a shrub with 4 to 8 delicate, pink to white flowers on leafless stems. Blooming in mid-spring, the flowers appear before the shiny, dark green leaves emerge.
Pinkshell azalea is endemic (native) to the southern Blue Mountains.
It was named for G. R. Vasey, the botanist who
discovered it.
This azalea attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and birds. It is rabbit resistant.
All parts of the plant are poisonous if eaten; they are toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
This beautiful shrub is rare around the world and is threatened by the development of settlements in mountainous areas and over harvesting by gardeners.
