Loving the native azaleas
As we brace ourselves for the parade of jaw dropping spring beauty that has just begun in the South, it’s sometimes easy to experience sensory overdrive. Dogwoods, redbuds, and flowering cherry provide a lucious canopy for the shrubs below – mostly evergreen azaleas – whose branches are so packed with blossoms that they look like balls of brightly colored candy. The whole experience can be overwhelming for those of us passionate about and slightly obsessed with flowers. (Who me?)
I have nothing against the evergreen azaleas, I have a lot and keep adding to my collection. What could be better, really, than a shrub that provides evergreen leaves throughout the year, then graces us with startlingly beautiful blossoms for many weeks?
Well…..for my own tastes, what could be better are the native azaleas which produce soft, gorgeous blossoms before the leaves come out allowing us to appreciate both the blossom, the new leaves and the lovely bare branches. Looking at this, you can breathe deeply and appreciate each perfectly formed flower.
There are several natives that bloom this time of year, each with its own beauty and charm. The orange and sometimes red flame azalea, Rhododendron calendulaceum, is often found in our southern woods.
There are many natural varieties of flame azaleas, including “Hooper’s Bald” which grows profusely and happily on one of the open balds near Robbinsville, North Carolina.
Piedmont azalea, Rhododendron canescens has either pink or white flowers and is the most common of the seventeen different azalea species native to the Southeast.
Choosing the right site is imperative for successful growth and bloom. Native azaleas need about half sun / half shade to bloom well. They prefer acidic, well drained soils. After they have been planted, they need regular watering until they have become established, usually about two years.
Native azaleas (as a group) are considered Georgia’s state wildflower (the state bird is the brown thrasher and the state animal is the white tailed deer) and what a beautiful choice! With their delicate blossoms, and bright green new leaves, they usher in spring with a restrained but lovely grace and joy.