8 Noteworthy Native Azaleas Every Gardener Should Know – And Grow!

Flowering shrubs are an important element in many landscapes, and azaleas are one of the top choices. Evergreen azaleas are extremely popular landscape shrubs, especially in the South. They hold their leaves all year long, growing low and dense. But native azaleas have increasing numbers of fans.

Like evergreens, native types of azaleas are in the genus Rhododendron. They are tall, deciduous shrubs or small trees with airy canopies. Their branches are covered with blooms – tubular flowers with long stamens - from early spring through summer.

If you are thinking of planting some native rhododendron species, we’ve got a short list for your consideration. Here are 8 of our favorite native azaleas.

Are Azaleas Native To North America?

While evergreen azaleas and some popular deciduous azaleas come from China, native azaleas hail from North America. How many varieties are there? That depends on the botanist you ask, but there are likely more than fifteen.

Like other azaleas, native azaleas are in the genus Rhododendron. You can tell whether a particular species in the garden store is native by looking at the subgenus. They are listed under the subgenus Azalea, the subgenus Pentanthera, or the subgenus Anthodendron.

Amazing Native Azaleas

Here’s our shortlist of eight terrific and popular native azaleas. If you live in the native azalea range, you may be familiar with one or more of them.

1. Sweet Azalea

Sweet azalea (Rhododendron arborescens) is native to North America, largely found in the Appalachian Mountains or on foothills near rivers and streams. The common name is probably due to the extremely fragrant flowers that resemble little white stars with contrasting pink filaments. Sweet azaleas grow to 10 feet (3.3m) tall and the branches fill with forest green leaves. These trees need sun and moist soil.

When do sweet azalea bloom? The flowering period runs from May to August. One native species common in central Alabama flowers in July or August.

2. Plumleaf Azalea

When it comes to native azaleas, Georgia has quite a few species. The plumleaf azalea (Rhododendron prunifolium) is native to Georgia and Alabama, especially common on the states’ common border. It is an extremely appealing and unique native shrub and a tall one, growing up to 20 feet (6.3m).

This species is a late bloomer. You’ll see both leaves and blooms from July to September. The flowers don’t offer a fragrance, but the color is enchanting, ranging from orange red to deep-red. They appear after the leaves are fully opened.

3. Cumberland Azalea

You’ll see the Cumberland azalea listed as both Rhododendron cumberlandense and Rhododendron bakeri. Native to mountainous areas in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, the Cumberland azalea is a relatively short shrub, often no taller than 5 feet (1.6m). Its blossoms look like the flame variety, but in the darker shades of orange or red. They do not carry a fragrance. The bloom begins in May or early June.

4. Flame Azalea

Those who adore native azaleas call the flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) the queen of them all. This orange native azalea species offers orange or red flowers – the color of flames! – and blooms in May. You can find it growing wild in north Georgia and the Appalachian Mountains region.

The flame species can grow to 15 feet (5m) tall. It is a large plant with large flowers that start to bloom in late May to early June. The Cherokee Indians call this species the "Sky Paint Flower," and it may be the brightest flowering shrub of all.

5. Alabama Azalea

If you are looking for white azalea flowers, don’t look beyond the Alabama azalea (Rhododendron alabamense). The shrub’s snow-white flowers appear in April or May and have a lemony fragrance. They grow in nature throughout the state of Alabama, and the size of the azalea ranges from 4 to 12 feet (1.3 - 4 m) tall.

This plant spreads easily and quickly as a stoloniferous shrub, and you can see it in the wild covering low hills. Some of the flowers are splotched with pink.

6. Coastal Azalea

When they gave Rhododendron atlanticum the common name “Coastal azalea”, it’s the East Coast they are referencing. This short shrub grows wild from Delaware to Georgia. It is quite drought tolerant and presents white blossoms – often tinged with pink - from April or May. They are extremely fragrant and spread easily.

Coastal azalea grows wild up and down the Atlantic coast from South Carolina to New Jersey. They are stoloniferous shrubs that spread remarkably quickly and often one plant can grow to cover a huge area.

7. Piedmont Azalea

What’s the first native azalea to bloom? The Piedmont azalea (Rhododendron canescens) starts the show in many areas with the flowers opening in early spring from March to early April. The flowers are white or pale pink and very fragrant. These shrubs can top out at 15 feet (5m) and are among the most widely distributed species in the Southeastern states.

The Piedmont azalea is also called the honeysuckle azalea. If you want soft pink blossoms on a shrub that stays under 8 feet (2.6m) tall, consider ‘Camilla’s Blush,’ offering rounded groupings of soft pink blossoms. This species is one of the most abundant of all native azaleas.

8. Florida Azalea

The Florida azalea bush (Rhododendron austrinum) is filled with yellow or pale orange flowers early in spring. They appear from late March to early April from Florida to Alabama to Mississippi. The shrub – also called the Florida flame azalea - grows to 15 feet (5m) tall. This magnificent species is extremely showy. Although the flowers are usually small and yellow, they can be fiery red and very fragrant.

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