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Cressler, Alan

Rhododendron austrinum

Rhododendron austrinum (Small) Rehder

Orange Azalea, Florida Azalea, Yellow Azalea

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

Synonym(s): Azalea austrina

USDA Symbol: RHAU

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Orange azalea usually 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.

From the Image Gallery

11 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 15 feet tall, often shorter.

Bloom Information

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

Distribution

USA: AL , FL , GA , MS , NC
Native Distribution: FL Panhandle, s.w. GA & MS
Native Habitat: Wooded bluffs; woodland stream banks

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

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FAC				FAC

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS
First United Methodist Church of Jefferson City - Jefferson City, TN
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski

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Web Reference

Webref 57 - Atlas of Florida Plants (2020) Institute for Systematic Botany
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Research Literature

Reslit 251 - Genetic diversity of seven deciduous azalea species (Rhododendron spp. section Pentanthera) native to the eastern United States (2008) M. Chappell, C. Robacker and T. M. Jenkins
Reslit 271 - Influence of nitrate: Ammonium ratios on growth and elemental concentration in two azalea cultivars (2003) M. B. Clark, H. A. Mills, C. D. Robacker and J. G....

This information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
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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: 2022-10-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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