Azalea Care

Native azaleas for your Landscape.

Many more varieties available than the pink domestic
standard (R.canescens).

The group of plants referred to as native azaleas are truly azaleas. You might be familiar
with them by other names ranging from wild honeysuckle (a regional term) to the botanical
rhododendron designation. They are azaleas or more correctly rhododendra. The various
species have particular characteristics of color, fragrance, texture and bloom time. I will
address the characteristics of a few of the best species for our area.

Piedmont azalea (R. canescens) is probably the most common native species in our area
and likely to be blooming now or in the next week or so. Color varies from light pink to
dark pink with a wonderful fragrance. Flowers bloom prior to leafing out so the plant
resembles a large bouquet of flowers. The flower and fragrance are said to resemble
honeysuckle, consequently the common name of wild or bush honeysuckle.

Alabama azalea (R. alabamense). It is similar in form and bloom time to the Piedmont
azalea (R. canescens), but the flower is light pink to white with a yellow blotch in the throat
of the flower. I find the fragrance of the Alabama azalea to be the best of all with light
lemonary accents.

For those of you who like a hotter color, Florida Flame azalea (R. austrinum) with
bright yellow to yellow gold flower trusses is about as showy as they come with plants
reaching 9 to 12 feet and a perfume to knock your socks off.

Swamp azalea (R. viscosum) and Sweet azalea (R. arborescens) are late bloomers
both with white flowers. Sweet azalea (R. alborescens) is distinctive with its prominent red
stamens and heliotrope fragrance. Like Sweet azalea, the Swamp azalea (R. viscosum)
flowers after leaves are fully formed but the fragrance is described as spicy. The Swamp
azalea will grow in wet mucky soils. A similar species often confused with Swamp azalea is
Hammock Sweet azalea (R. serrulatum), which generally blooms later than Swamp
azalea. Last, but certainly not least, is Plum Leaf azalea (R. prunifolium ). This beautiful
red but nonfragrant azalea blooms very late in our region, usually in June. Calloway Gardens
built its reputation on this native plant and its summer bloom time is an event to celebrate.
These azaleas are the parent stock for several groups of European azalea favorites. These
azaleas collected in the 17th and 18th century in America have been developed into the
famous Knapp Hill azaleas. In development, these plants became intolerant of the heat and
humidity of their native region. In the last few years (that's 20 to 25 years in plant time),
regional plant breeders have been developing backcrosses to add heat tolerance to these
many varieties. Check out the Confederate General series and the Aromi hybrids. Ask for
these in your local garden center.