Native Azaleas Plant Profile

 

Native Azaleas Plant Profile

Native Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) are flowering shrubs that are found in the woodlands on the East Coast of the USA. They do best in light, dappled sunlight.

One of the most striking characteristics of native azaleas is their strong, sweet fragrance, which is often compared to that of honeysuckles. The flowers also resemble clusters of honeysuckle blossoms. Hence, the common name for native azaleas of Wild Honeysuckle.

Native azaleas are deciduous—dropping their leaves in the fall. While the Japanese and Korean azaleas are mainly evergreen as are most of their hybrids. Native azaleas prefer moist, well-drained, acidic soil that is high in organic matter.

The Piedmont azalea (Rhododendron canescens) or the Southern pinxter azalea is native from the Carolinas south to Florida and west to east Texas. The flowers are shades of white, pink, and red. It can grow to 10 feet wide and high and has an airy, open growing habit. It is hardy to USDA zones 5-9.

The Pinxterbloom azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides) is similar to the Piedmont azalea, but thrives in a more northern native range from Massachusetts to north Georgia and over to Tennessee. It is hardy to USDA zones 4-8 and grows to 5 feet tall and wide.

The Florida flame azalea (Rhododendron austrinum) is native to northern Florida and other far southern states. It grows to 8 to 10 feet tall and has yellow, orange, red, or pink blooms. It's hardy to USDA Zones 6 to 9.

The Alabama azalea (Rhododendron alabamense) is native to Alabama and Georgia. It grows 5 to 6 feet tall. It has blossoms that are white with yellow blotches. It is hardy to USDA Zones 7 to 9.

The Sweet azalea (Rhododendron arborescens)  can grow to 10-20 feet tall. It is native to the Appalachians from Pennsylvania to Alabama, It has white blossoms with red stamens. It is hardy to USDA Zones 4 to 7.

Native birds (especially hummingbirds), bees, butterflies, and other wildlife are attracted to these shrubs and their amazing flowers.

Native Azaleas: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Video and Editing by Cassie Peo

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If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ Azaleas: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2018/05/plant-profile-azaleas.html

~ Aronia: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/05/aronia-chokeberry-plant-profile.html

~ Carolina Allspice: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/05/carolina-allspice-plant-profile.html

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Top Local Spots for Azalea Viewing: Best Bloom Displays in the DC-MD-VA Region

Top Local Spots for Azalea Viewing: Best Bloom Displays in the DC-MD-VA Region - updated for 2025

What is a spring in the Mid-Atlantic without abundant azalea blooms? Masses of bright blossoms make for a wonderful sight after a long, cold winter. Sure, they can be over-used at times, but the reason we love them so much is because they are so successful and reliable in our gardens.

   Azalea season runs from April through June with early-, mid-, and late-season blooming shrubs. (Though technically, with the new re-blooming varieties, the flowering season can extend through fall.) Be sure to re-visit some of these locations throughout the several weeks of bloom so you can enjoy the changing mix of colors as different varieties wax and wane.

   A few years ago, Washington Gardener Magazine asked local azalea fans for their favorite bloom-viewing spots in our region. “I’ve always enjoyed the ride along Prosperity Avenue between Little River Turnpike and Route 50 in Fairfax County, VA. Many homes have beautiful, mature azaleas,” said Rick Bauer, president of the Northern Virginia Chapter, the Azalea Society of America.

   “My first place vote will always go to the National Arboretum,” said Mike Welsh, retired city gardener for Takoma Park, MD. “It has everything: a great collection, many different forms and varieties, the wonderful lay of the land for viewing, and a central location. By far, the most fascinating lore and history. It gets better, year after year. All one needs do is to go and look at the faces of those visiting and witness first-hand their expressed pleasure and their interaction with those beautiful azaleas.”

   Mike’s professional gardening domain was Takoma Park, MD, which is well-known for its many beautiful azaleas, in both private and public gardens. The location is the former home of Benjamin Y. Morrison, the famed horticulturist who was the founder and first director of the U. S. National Arboretum. Morrison is noted for cross-breeding different strains of azaleas to produce the Glenn Dale azaleas, which are prevalent today throughout the eastern United States. Morrison lived near Piney Branch Road and many of his Glenn Dale introductions can be seen throughout the city’s private home gardens and public parks.

   “Azaleas have a glamorous presence that few other plants have; beautiful azalea viewing can be anywhere and everywhere,” added Mike.

Azaleas at the USNA bonsai collection. Photo courtesy of DCGardens.com

   Indeed, most of these azalea-viewing suggestions are free and open to all. A few are on private property and we ask you to respect the homeowners by not trespassing and staying in the public right-of-way to take any photos.
• Brighton Dam in Brookeville, MD, has more than 20,000 azaleas and is provided by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.
•  Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD, features more than 300 varieties of azaleas represented by 2,000 plants.
• Landon School in Bethesda, MD, hosts an annual Azalea Festival on the first weekend of May. The Perkins Gardens include 15,000 azaleas.
• The U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC, is where thousands of azaleas cover the flanks of Mount Hamilton in a blaze of color. 
• McCrillis Gardens in Bethesda, MD, was the private collection of an azalea gardener before being given to Montgomery County Parks in 1978.
• Franciscan Monastery in Washington, DC, features a hillside of azaleas on its 40-acre grounds.

• Tudor Place in Washington, DC, has pink and white azaleas around the Lion Fountain.

• Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC, and the Dumbarton Oaks Park next door, both have azaleas in their garden.
• U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, DC, and the adjacent grounds of the U.S. Capitol building offer both native azaleas and Asian kinds in many colors.
• Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens in Washington, DC, includes hundreds of azaleas sprinkled throughout the many garden rooms.
• Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA, has a small collection of natives and some Asian varieties.
• Rachel Carson Conservation Park, in Olney, MD, is known, in part, for Rachel Carson’s famous wild azaleas (Pinxters), which are in full bloom in mid- to late-May.
• Norfolk Botanical Garden in Norfolk, VA, contains an azalea collection with more than 50,000 plants representing more than 550 species in full bloom. They also host an annual Azalea Celebration Week in early May.
• Cylburn Arboretum in Baltimore, MD, is known for its Azalea Trail and offers guided walks on occasion.
• Maymont in Richmond, VA, includes a Japanese Garden with spectacular combinations of azaleas, Japanese Maples, and spring-flowering trees.

• Historic Londontown House and Gardens in Edgewater, MD has a beautiful collection. One commenter said, "A lively walk in the woods -- overlooking the South River."
• Annmarie Garden in Solomons, MD, has about 500 shrubs in its Glenn Dales collection established in 1997 and tended by volunteer gardeners.
   Did we leave any of your favorite local azalea viewing spots off this list? Let us know where you go to be amongst “the royalty of the garden.”  

Here are some tips and sources for growing great azaleas in YOUR garden: 

• Listen to our All About Azaleas episode of the GardenDC Podcast: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-9-all-things.html
• Azalea Plant Profile https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2018/05/plant-profile-azaleas.html
• Azalea Society of America https://www.azaleas.org/
• A reader tip: "White's Nursery supplies many of these places with their azaleas. There are hundreds of varieties. The prices are very reasonable because it is a one-man business. Mike White does it as a hobby. Even if you don't need azaleas, go look at the beautiful flowers at 22531 Wildcat Rd Germantown, MD."
• Celebrate April is Azalea Month - see https://azaleas.org/april-is-azalea-month/

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

Top Local Spots for Azalea Viewing: Best Bloom Displays in the DC-MD-VA Region

Top Local Spots for Azalea Viewing: Best Bloom Displays in the DC-MD-VA Region

What is a spring in the Mid-Atlantic without abundant azalea blooms? Masses of bright blossoms make for a wonderful sight after a long, cold winter. Sure, they can be over-used at times, but the reason we love them so much is because they are so successful and reliable in our gardens.

   Azalea season runs from April through June with early-, mid-, and late-season blooming shrubs. (Though technically, with the new re-blooming varieties, the flowering season can extend through fall.) Be sure to re-visit some of these locations throughout the several weeks of bloom so you can enjoy the changing mix of colors as different varieties wax and wane.

   A few years ago, Washington Gardener Magazine asked local azalea fans for their favorite bloom viewing spots in our region. “I’ve always enjoyed the ride along Prosperity Avenue between Little River Turnpike and Route 50 in Fairfax County, VA. Many homes have beautiful, mature azaleas,” said Rick Bauer, president of the Northern Virginia Chapter, the Azalea Society of America.

   “My first place vote will always go to the National Arboretum,” said Mike Welsh, retired city gardener for Takoma Park, MD. “It has everything: a great collection, many different forms and varieties, the wonderful lay of the land for viewing, and a central location. By far, the most fascinating lore and history. It gets better, year after year. All one needs do is to go and look at the faces of those visiting and witness first-hand their expressed pleasure and their interaction with those beautiful azaleas.”

   Mike’s professional gardening domain was Takoma Park, MD, which is well-known for its many beautiful azaleas, in both private and public gardens. The location is the former home of Benjamin Y. Morrison, the famed horticulturist who was the founder and first director of the U. S. National Arboretum. Morrison is noted for cross-breeding different strains of azaleas to produce the Glenn Dale azaleas, which are prevalent today throughout the eastern United States. Morrison lived near Piney Branch Road and many of his Glenn Dale introductions can be seen throughout the city’s private home gardens and public parks.

   “Azaleas have a glamorous presence that few other plants have; beautiful azalea viewing can be anywhere and everywhere,” added Mike.

Azaleas at the USNA bonsai collection. Photo courtesy of DCGardens.com

   Indeed, most of these azalea-viewing suggestions are free and open to all. A few are on private property and we ask you to respect the homeowners by not trespassing and staying in the public right-of-way to take any photos.
• Brighton Dam in Brookeville, MD, has more than 20,000 azaleas and is provided by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.
•  Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD, features more than 300 varieties of azaleas represented by 2,000 plants.
• Landon School in Bethesda, MD, hosts an annual Azalea Festival on the first weekend of May. The Perkins Gardens include 15,000 azaleas.
• The U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC, is where thousands of azaleas cover the flanks of Mount Hamilton in a blaze of color. 
• McCrillis Gardens in Bethesda, MD, was the private collection of an azalea gardener before being given to Montgomery County Parks in 1978.
• Franciscan Monastery in Washington, DC, features a hillside of azaleas in its 40-acre grounds.
• Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens in Washington, DC, includes hundred of azaleas sprinkled throughout the many garden rooms.
• Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA, has a small collection of natives and some Asian varieties.
• Rachel Carson Conservation Park, in Olney, MD, is known, in part, for Rachel Carson’s famous wild azaleas (Pinxters), which are in full bloom in mid- to late-May.
• Norfolk Botanical Garden in Norfolk, VA, contains an azalea collection with more than 50,000 plants representing more than 550 species in full bloom. They also host an annual Azalea Celebration Week in early May.
• Cylburn Arboretum in Baltimore, MD, is known for its Azalea Trail and offers guided walks on occasion.
• Maymont in Richmond, VA, includes a Japanese Garden with spectacular combinations of azaleas, Japanese Maples, and spring-flowering trees.
• Annmarie Garden in Solomons, MD, has about 500 shrubs in its Glenn Dales collection established in 1997 and tended by volunteer gardeners.
   Did we leave any of your favorite local azalea viewing spots off this list? Let us know where you go to be amongst “the royalty of the garden.”  

Here are some tips and sources for growing great azaleas in YOUR garden: 

• Azalea Plant Profile https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2018/05/plant-profile-azaleas.html
• All Things Azalea https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-9-all-things.html
• Azalea Society of America https://www.azaleas.org/
• A reader tip: "White's Nursery supplies many of these places with their azaleas. There are hundreds of varieties. The prices are very reasonable because it is a one-man business. Mike White does it as a hobby. Even if you don't need azaleas, go look at the beautiful flowers at 22531 Wildcat Rd Germantown, MD.
• Celebrate April is Azalea Month - see https://azaleas.org/april-is-azalea-month/

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

GardenDC Podcast Episode 9: All Things Azalea

Barbara Bullock in her yard. Photo Lan Tu.

This episode is an in-depth talk with Barbara Bullock about all things azalea - from planting tips to pruning to favorite selections. She is the recently retired curator of the US National Arboretum’s azalea collection. We also reminisce a bit about Behnke Nurseries and she shares what gardening in retirement is like.

BTW, YOU can become  a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month!See how at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/support. 

The episode is posted at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/episodes/May-2--2020-edhc03

It is also available on -

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gardendc/id1502631179

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AsWArNpQo8OlzHoMDMSI8

• RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/gardendc-G2ql5V

• Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/gardendc

• PocketCasts: https://pca.st/9phvd8bk

• Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1502631179/gardendc

• Google Podcasts at this link, either now or soon (note that currently, this link will only work on Android devices)

We welcome your questions and comments!

You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

April 2018 Washington Gardener: Reblooming Azaleas , Year of the Beet, and much more...

The April 2018 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine is now out.

Inside this issue:

·         Reblooming Azaleas

·         5 Tips for Surviving Allergy Season

·         A Visit to Jefferson’s Poplar Forest

·         Your Garden Task List

·         Being Green with Adele Kuo

·         Garden Hats Reviewed

·         DC-MD-VA Gardening Events Calendar

·         & 12+ Springtime Garden Tours

·         2018 is the Year of the Beet

and much more…

Note that any submissions, event listings, and advertisements for the May 2018 issue are due by May 10.

Subscribe to Washington Gardener Magazine today to have the monthly publication sent to your inbox as a PDF several days before it is available online. You can use the PayPal (credit card) online order form here: http://www.washingtongardener.com/index_files/subscribe.htm

Follow us on:
http://twitter.com/WDCGardener
facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

Top Local Spots for Azalea Viewing: Best Bloom Displays in the DC-MD-VA Region

What is a spring in the Mid-Atlantic without abundant azalea blooms? Masses of bright blossoms make for a wonderful sight after a long, cold winter. Sure, they can be over-used at times, but the reason we love them so much is because they are so successful and reliable in our gardens.
   Azalea season runs from April through June with early-, mid-, and late-season blooming shrubs. (Though technically, with the new re-blooming varieties, the flowering season can extend through fall.) Be sure to re-visit some of these locations through-out the several weeks of bloom so you can enjoy the changing mix of colors as different varieties wax and wane.
   Washington Gardener Magazine asked local azalea fans for their favorite bloom viewing spots in our region. “I’ve always enjoyed the ride along Prosperity Avenue between Little River Turnpike and Route 50 in Fairfax County, VA. Many homes have beautiful, mature azaleas,” said Rick Bauer, president of the Northern Virginia Chapter, Azalea Society of America.
   “My first place vote will always go to the National Arboretum,” said Mike Welsh, city gardener for Takoma Park, MD. “It has everything: a great collection, many different forms and varieties, wonderful lay of the land for viewing, and a central location. By far, a fascinating lore and history. It gets better, year after year. All one needs do is to go and look at the faces of whose visiting and witness first-hand their expressed pleasure and their interaction with those beautiful azaleas.”
   Mike’s gardening domain is the parks of Takoma Park, which is well-known for its many beautiful azaleas, in both private and public gardens. The location is the former home of Benjamin Y. Morrison, the famed horticulturalist who was the founder and first director of the National Arboretum. Morrison is noted for cross-breeding different strains of azaleas to produce the Glenn Dale azaleas, which are prevalent today throughout the eastern United States. Morrison lived near Piney Branch Road and many of his Glenn Dale introductions can be seen throughout the city’s private home gardens and public parks.
   “Azaleas have a glamorous presence that few other plants have; beautiful azalea viewing can be anywhere and everywhere,” added Mike.

Azaleas at the USNA bonsai collection. Photo courtesy of DCGardens.com

   Indeed, most all of these azalea-viewing suggestion are free and open to all. A few are on private property and we ask you to respect the home owners by not trespassing and staying in the public right-of-way to take any photos.
• Brighton Dam in Brookeville, MD, has more than 20,000 azaleas and is provided by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.
•  Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD, features more than 300 varieties of azaleas represented by 2,000 plants.
• Landon School in Bethesda, MD, hosts an annual Azalea Festival on the first weekend of May. The Perkins Gardens include 15,000 azaleas.
• The U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC, is where thousands of azaleas cover the flanks of Mount Hamilton in a blaze of color. You can track what is in bloom and when at: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/collections/azaleablossom.html.
[Note this year, due to the eaglets that the access to the azaleas is limited.]
• McCrillis Gardens in Bethesda, MD, was the private collection of an azalea gardener before being given to Montgomery County parks in 1978.
• Franciscan Monastery in Washington, DC, features a hillside of azaleas in its 40-acre grounds.
• Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens in Washington, DC, includes hundred of azaleas sprinkled throughout the many garden rooms.
• Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA, has a small collection of natives and some Asian varieties.
• Rachel Carson Conservation Park, in Olney, MD, is known, in part, for Rachel Carson’s famous wild azaleas (pinxters), which are in full bloom in mid- to late-May.
• Norfolk Botanical Garden in Norfolk, VA, contains an azalea collection with more than 50,000 plants representing more than 550 species in full bloom. They also host an annual Azalea Celebration Week in early May.
• Cylburn Arboretum in Baltimore, MD, is known for its Azalea Trail and offers guided walks on occasion.
• Maymont in Richmond, VA, includes a Japanese Garden with spectacular combinations of azaleas, Japanese Maples, and spring-flowering trees.
• Annmarie Garden in Solomons, MD, has about 500 shrubs in its Glenn Dales collection established in 1997 and tended by volunteer gardeners.
   Did we leave any of your favorite local azalea viewing spots off this list? Let us know where you go to be amongst “the royalty of the garden.”  

About the Author:
Kathy Jentz is editor/publisher of Washington Gardener.