Native Plant of the Month: Western Azalea
In late spring and early summer, California’s only native azalea species announces its presence with a powerful perfume. The Western Azalea (Rhododendron occidentale) is covered in clusters of large flowers each May and June, providing nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies, along with a pleasant scent for passersby. Its five flaring petals are white and tinged with varying degrees of pink, with the uppermost petal having a yellow-orange patch. Native tribes, such as the Pomo of Northern California, traditionally use the beautiful blooms in dance wreaths.
Growing Western Azalea at Home
Western Azalea needs access to year-round moisture. In nature, they grow along creeks and seeps, in wet meadows, or near the coast where there is fog influence. In the garden, Western Azaleas need regular irrigation throughout the summer. However, try to keep their leaves dry, and plant in an area with good air circulation to prevent mildew.
Part shade to full sun environments, such as redwood forest clearings or woodland edges, are ideal habitats for this species. They often thrive after fires create space for them to grow.
They are found in a variety of soils, and can even tolerate substrates like serpentine that are toxic to other plants. Similar to other members of the heath family, they can grow in acidic soils as well. For best results in the garden, provide plenty of organic matter by adding a good layer of compost, wood chip mulch, or leaves on the soil surface.
The azalea’s stunning floral display makes them a great centerpiece specimen in the garden. They can be slow-growing, but eventually reach a mature size of around 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide. In autumn, the leaves turn yellow and fall off, so you may want to pair them with evergreen companions such as coffeeberry (Frangula californica), evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum), alumroot (Heuchera spp.), and fringe cups (Tellima grandiflora).
Western Azalea also has two native evergreen relatives in the genus Rhododendron that can pair well: the Pacific Rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum) and Western Labrador Tea (Rhododendron columbianum). These two species are also rhododendrons but are not considered azaleas, since their flowers have ten pollen-producing stamens rather than the azalea’s five. Note that all parts of rhododendrons are toxic to humans and pets when ingested.
Western Azalea in a coastal spruce forest (credit: Jon Lee, iNaturalist).
A variable checkerspot butterfly takes a sip at a Western Azalea flower.
Where to Find Western Azalea and Other Native Plants
Western Azalea grows throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains, including at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and Memorial County Park. Our nursery grows native plants like Western Azalea using seeds and cuttings carefully sourced from local watersheds. See our latest inventory for online sales here:
Our online nursery sales will continue through June 30th, 2025. We will pause sales for the summer months to focus on propagation and replenishing our plant supplies before resuming in fall.
By Stanley Gu, Ecologist II
