Rhododendron atlanticum

Introduction

Rhododendron atlanticum, the Coastal Azalea, is a common understory plant along the south eastern coastal plains of the United States. The white flowers are 1 to 1.5 inches across, but are often blushed with pink on the outside and some have a yellow blotch.

Collected by John Clayton in 1743, this plant was appreciated more in England than in its native land. The plant habit is relatively low but stoloniferous. Spreading by underground stems, R. atlanticum can develop into very large colonies of an acre or more in sandy soils.

R. atlanticum is easy to propagate, and makes a nice landscape plant in heavier soils which will restrict the spreading habit.


Distribution Map

Plants in the Wild

#071


Surry Co., VA
#072


Prince George Co., VA
#073


Surry Co., VA
#074


Surry Co., VA


Variations in Flower Form

#075


Gates Co., NC
#076


Prince George Co., VA
#077


Sussex Co., VA
#078


Gloucester Co., VA
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