Rhododendron austrinum

Introduction

Rhododendron austrinum is known as the Florida Azalea and blooms in early spring before as the leaves are beginning to expand. The fragrant blosoms come in shades of orange through gold and yellow, and measure approximately 1 to 1.5 inches across. This species has very long stamens and the tube of the flower is often flushed with red but there is no blotch.

Discovered by Dr. A. W. Chapman before 1865, R. austrinum is similar in many respects to R. canescens including the sticky glanular hairs on the flower tube, but differs in the color variations which are orange to yellow rather than pink to white.

R. austrinum makes an excellent landscape plant as well as a valuable hybridizing resource, especially in southern gardens where heat tolerance is important.


Distribution Map

Plants in the Wild

#031


Lee Co., GA
#032


Lee Co., GA
#033


Lee Co., GA
#034


Liberty Co., FL (Torreya State Park)
#035


Liberty Co., FL (Torreya State Park)


Variations in Flower Form

#036


Geneva Co., AL
#037


Lee Co., GA
#038


Lee Co., GA
#039


Lee Co., GA
#040


Private Garden (clone "Millie Mac")
#041


Liberty Co., FL (Torreya State Park)
Acknowledgement:
The images presented here are reproduced with permission from color slides taken by the Species Study Group of the Middle Atlantic Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. The slides are numbered, and correspond to the sequence used in the program Eastern Native Azalea Species presented by George K. McLellan at the East Coast Regional Conference of the ARS in November 1999.

BACK HOME NEXT

East Coast Native Azaleas
R. vaseyi
R. canadense
R. canescens
R. austrinum
R. flammeum
R. periclymenoides
R. alabamense
R. atlanticum
R. calendulaceum
R. prinophyllum
R. viscosum
R. arborescens
R. cumberlandense
R. prunifolium
R. eastmanii

Identifying the Native Azaleas
INTRO
WHITE
PINK
ORANGE