Cumberland rhododendron

Rhododendron cumberlandense E.L.Braun

Cumberland azalea can spread into colonies through underground or ground-level shoots. This habit distinguishes it from the usually solitary growth of flame azalea in North Carolina’s flora. Its upright, spreading branches lose their leaves for winter and generally reach three to seven feet. Vascular Plants of North Carolina: Rhododendron cumberlandense NC State Extension: Rhododendron cumberlandense

Botanical name

North Carolina’s state flora recognizes Rhododendron cumberlandense and identifies R. bakeri in some earlier regional floras as a misapplied name. Vascular Plants of North Carolina: Rhododendron cumberlandense

Recognizing the plant

Alternate leaves are oval to widest above the middle, with smooth edges and occasional hairs along their margins. Young twigs bear nonglandular hairs. Flowers gather in groups of three to seven, ranging from yellow-orange to deep red. Their funnel-shaped corollas widen into five spreading lobes, with the stamens and stigma extending beyond them. The outside of each corolla is hairy. Aging bark becomes brownish gray, furrowed and sometimes shredding. NC State Extension: Rhododendron cumberlandense

Bloom window

North Carolina

Flowers open in June and July after the shrub has leafed out. NC State Extension: Rhododendron cumberlandense

Native range

The species belongs to the southeastern United States. In North Carolina it occurs in the southern mountains, generally above 4,000 feet, including documented populations in Macon, Jackson and Swain counties. Vascular Plants of North Carolina: Rhododendron cumberlandense NC State Extension: Rhododendron cumberlandense

Ecological relationships

Its foliage and woody growth support moth larvae, including azalea caterpillar and rhododendron borer. NC State Extension: Rhododendron cumberlandense

Botanical sources

Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.