Menziesia ferruginea
Mock azalea
(c) David Anderson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Menziesia ferruginea (Mock azalea) is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family, recognized by Range edge species - reaches its southern limit in California from a primarily boreal distribution.
Mock azalea is a California native shrub found in northern coastal regions including the North Coast and Klamath Ranges in moist woodlands with acidic or peaty soils at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces yellow to orange-bronze urn-shaped flowers 6 to 7 millimeters long with short lobes. Growing 1 to 4 meters tall with sprawling to erect stems, the plant has a variable growth habit ranging from flat to brown-hairy. Its leaves are 1.5 to 4 centimeters long with glandular-ciliate margins and mucronate tips, giving the plant a distinctive texture. The fruit is less than 8 millimeters wide, containing many elongate seeds with short tails.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Range edge species - reaches its southern limit in California from a primarily boreal distribution
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist woodland, generally acidic or peaty soils
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: Lake, Del Norte, Humboldt
Outside California: to Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Alabama
Bloom period
Menziesia ferruginea blooms Jun-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Rhododendron: Menziesia has tiny urn flowers 6-7mm; Rhododendron has showy flowers 10-50mm.; vs Phyllodoce: Menziesia has broad leaves over 5mm wide; Phyllodoce has needle-like leaves under 5mm.; vs Kalmia: Menziesia has simple urn flowers; Kalmia has cup-shaped flowers with anther pockets.; vs Leucothoe: Menziesia flowers are solitary or few together; Leucothoe has flowers in elongated drooping clusters.; vs Cassiope: Menziesia has broad spreading leaves; Cassiope has tiny scale-like leaves pressed to stem.
Frequently asked questions
Is Menziesia ferruginea native to California?
Yes. Menziesia ferruginea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Menziesia ferruginea bloom?
Menziesia ferruginea blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Menziesia ferruginea grow?
Menziesia ferruginea occurs in Lake, Del Norte, Humboldt, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Menziesia ferruginea belong to?
Menziesia ferruginea is in the Ericaceae family, genus Menziesia.
What habitat does Menziesia ferruginea grow in?
Menziesia ferruginea grows in Moist woodland, generally acidic or peaty soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.