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Rhododendron austrinum (Orange azalea)
Bloodworth, Stefan

Rhododendron austrinum (Small) Rehd.

Orange azalea, Florida azalea, Yellow azalea

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

Synonyms: Azalea austrina

USDA Symbol: rhau

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Orange azalea grows 8-10 ft. high and forms a rather loose, multi-stemmed shrub. Twigs are reddish- brown in the winter. The fragrant, yellow, orange or almost pure red flowers occur 8-15 together. Flowers are tubular in shape with protruding stamens and open before or with the leaves.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Red , Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr

Distribution

USA: AL , FL , GA , MS , NC
Native Distribution: FL Panhandle, s.w. GA & MS
Native Habitat: Wooded bluffs; woodland stream banks
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Soil Description: Well-drained, sandy soil.
Conditions Comments: One of the easiest native rhododendrons to grow, requiring no special pampering.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Bumble Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Combine seeds loosely with sphagnum moss and sprinkle lightly over a 2:1 perlite/peat mixture. Optimum temperatures for germination are 45-50 degrees. Transplant seedlings to acid soil with a high content of organic matter. Cultivated evergreen azaleas
Seed Treatment: No pretreatment is necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS

Bibliography

Bibref 996 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (1994) Wasowski, Sally and Andy Wasowski

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Rhododendron austrinum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Rhododendron austrinum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Rhododendron austrinum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-18
Research By: TWC Staff

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