BLOOMING PINXTERBLOOM AZALEA IN FULL BLOOM DAY 2

THE SUN FULLY ILLUMINATES THE HUNDREDS OF BLOOMS ON THIS SPECTACULAR NATIVE SHRUB GROWING ON THE RICH UPLAND FOREST OF MORRIS PARK

Pinxter-Bloom Azalea blooms in Morris Park, Philadelphia
Pinxter-Bloom Azalea blooms in Morris Park, Philadelphia

Rhododendron periclymenoides

Pinxter-Bloom Azalea blooms in Morris Park, Philadelphia
Pinxter-Bloom Azalea blooms in Morris Park, Philadelphia

On a cloudy day, this flower lights the place up. On a sunny day, the flowers are transformed into sparkling orbs bursting forth from this normally unassuming woodland shrub.

Pinxter-Bloom Azalea blooms in Morris Park, Philadelphia
Pinxter-Bloom Azalea blooms in Morris Park, Philadelphia

After we saw this, we purchased another one at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education where they have a Spring Native Plant sale this weekend.

Pinxter-Bloom Azalea blooms in Morris Park, Philadelphia
Pinxter-Bloom Azalea blooms in Morris Park, Philadelphia

We are happy that the nursery trade has been able to cultivate this native woodland shrub and there is a market for it.  It is a long process (years) by seed, so its propagation is best done by cuttings.  Our new specimen is only about 11 inches tall, with  a few branches.  Still , this must have taken some time and care to create, and we are overjoyed at its commercial availability.  We can only imagine how many years it will take to look like this naturally occurring upland forest beauty here in Morris Park.

Pinxter-Bloom Azalea blooms in Morris Park, Philadelphia
Pinxter-Bloom Azalea blooms in Morris Park, Philadelphia

We have been keeping a close eye on the area around the shrub.  We remove the invasive vegetation that grows on it and around it, such as Japanese Honeysuckle, and Garlic Mustard.  We have been pulling Japanese Stiltgrass from nearby as well.  Asiatic bittersweet looms in the vicinity, and we see shoots come up from time to time which we immediately yank out.   However, the most ominous and alarming invasive is the Aralia elata, the Japanese angelica tree, which is growing only 25 feet from this shrub.

Pinxter-Bloom Azalea blooms in Morris Park, Philadelphia
Pinxter-Bloom Azalea blooms in Morris Park, Philadelphia

However, on this sunny and balmy spring day at the very end of April, we are very happy to see the Pinxterbloom Azalea in full bloom.