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Common Name: Flame Azalea
Scientific Name: Rhododendron calendulaceum
Family: Ericaceae
Blue Ridge Parkway
North Carolina
June 1, 2002
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Probably the most widely cultivated of our Azaleas, these native shrubs have flowers an inch or more across of varying shades of orange or yellow and add brilliant splashes of color to the spring forests. Another native Appalachian species, these plants grow in the deciduous forests and on forest margins in our mountains. May - June [Justice, William S. and Bell, C. Ritchie, Wild Flowers of North Carolina. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 1968]
Flower/Fruit: Large red, orange, yellow, pink, or gold flowers in late spring; not fragrant . Needs a few hours of direct sun; slow to become established; yellow to red fall foliage; loosely branched, upright habit . [North Carolina State University]
From GA to PA, Flame Azalea offers flowers in colors ranging from pale yellows, apricots, and pinks to deep reds and oranges, giving it the Cherokee name of "Sky-Paint Flower." This 4-8' tall and wide shrub is happy in well-drained soils. Open dappled shade or a site that faces SW are preferred planting locations. Native. Bloom color: Oranges and Reds; Bloom period: Summer; Height: 4-8'; Spread: 4-8''; Zones: 5-8. [Niche Gardens Growers of Distinctive Plants]
Since the time of William Bartram this spectacular plant, "the most gay and brilliant flowering shrub yet known", has been a great favorite. It grows at the lowest altitudes up to 5,800 feet, especially in fairly dry open forests where pines and oaks predominate. Ordinarily the flowering period begins in late April at the lower elevations and progresses upward until late June, when the plants in the higher mountains come into full bloom. The flowers range from pale yellow to a striking rich orange, since flame azalea hybridizes readily with other species. While many specimens grow 5 - 8 feet tall, some attain a height of 18 feet in the Great Smokies. [Stupka, Arthur, Wildflowers in Color. HarperPerennial, A Division of HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 1965]
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Alphabetical Listings -- A B C D, E F G H I, J, K L M N, O P Q, R S T U, V W X, Y, Z
Family Listings -- A B C D, E F G H I, J, K L M N, O P Q, R S T U, V W X, Y, Z
Genus Listings -- A B C D, E F G H I, J, K L M N, O P Q, R S T U, V W X, Y, Z